Istikhara Prayer
Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah :
TheProphet (p.b.u.h) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara(Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of actionconcerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Surasof the Quran.
Hesaid, “If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a twoRakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer):–
‘Allahummainni astakhiruka bi’ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa as’alakamin fadlika al-‘azlm Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta’lamu Walaa’lamu, Wa anta ‘allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta’lam annahadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma’ashi wa’aqibati amri (or ‘ajiliamri wa’ajilihi) Faqdirhu wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa inkunta ta’lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma’ashiwa’aqibati amri (or fi’ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifnianhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.’
(OAllah! I ask guidance from your knowledge, And Power from Your Mightand I ask for your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. Youknow and I do not and you know the unseen. O Allah! If You know thatthis job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in myHereafter–(or said: If it is better for my present and laterneeds)–Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, Andthen bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me Inmy religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter–(or said: If it isworse for my present and later needs)–Then keep it away from me andlet me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, andmake me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the personshould name (mention) his need.