Riyad as-Salihin — Hadith #45901

On the authority of Jabir, may God be pleased with him, he said: The Messenger of God, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, used to teach us Istikharah in all matters, such as a surah from the Qur’an. He would say: If one of you is concerned about a matter, let him perform two rak’ahs other than the obligatory prayers, and then say, O God, I seek advice from You with Your knowledge, and I seek guidance from You with Your ability, and I ask You of Your great bounty. You have power and I cannot, and you know and I do not know, and you are the Knower of the unseen. Oh God, if You know that this matter is good for me in my religion. And my livelihood and my hereafter.” Or he said: “My immediate and future affairs, so ordain them for me and make them easy for me, then bless me in them, even if You know that this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and my hereafter.” Or he said: “My immediate and future affairs, so turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and ordain for me what is good wherever it may be, and then please me with it.” He said: And he names His need. ((Narrated by Al-Bukhari)).