The Prayer of Seeking Guidance (istikhara)

Hadith.1550 - Harun ibn Khurajah narrate from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) who said: "If one of you intends to undertake a matter, let him not consult any person before first consulting Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted." I asked: "What is meant by consulting Allah (swt), may I be your ransom?" Imam (as) said: "He should first seek guidance (istikhara) from Allah (swt) regarding it, then he may consult others about it. For if one begins by turning to Allah (swt), the Blessed and Exalted, He will guide him to the best through the tongue of whomever He wills from among His creation."

"If one of you intends to undertake something, let him pray two units of prayer (rak'ahs). Then, let him praise Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, and glorify Him, and send blessings upon the Prophet (sw), and say: 'O’ Allah (swt), if this matter is good for me in my religion and my worldly affairs, then make it easy for me and decree it for me. But if it is otherwise, then turn it away from me.'" Murazim asked: "What should be recited in these prayers?" He (Abu Abdullah) replied: "Recite whatever you wish in them, and if you like, recite in them: 'Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad' (Surah Al-Ikhlas) and ‘Qul ya-ayyuhal kaafirun’ (Surah al-Kafirun) Reciting 'Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad' (Surah Al-Ikhlas) is equivalent to one-third of the Quran."

Hadith.1552 - Muhammad ibn Khalid al-Qasri asked Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) about seeking divine guidance (istikhara). Imam (as) said: "Seek guidance from Allah (swt) in the last unit (rak'ah) of the night prayer while you are in prostration, repeating it one hundred and one times." Muhammad asked: "How should I say it?" Imam (as) said: "You should say, Astakheeru Allāha bi-raḥmatihi, astakheeru Allāha bi-raḥmatihi. 'I seek guidance from Allah (swt) by His mercy, I seek guidance from Allah (swt) by His mercy.'"

"For istikhara (seeking divine guidance), a person should seek guidance from Allah (swt) during the last prostration (sajdah) of the two rak'ahs of Fajr prayer by repeating it one hundred and one times, praising Allah (swt), and sending blessings upon the Prophet and his family. Then, seek guidance from Allah (swt) fifty times, praise Allah (swt) again, and send blessings upon the Prophet and his family until completing the count of one hundred and one."

Whenever He (as) intended to purchase a servant, an animal, or a light matter, or something of little importance, he would perform istikhara (seek Allah’s (swt) guidance) seven times. But if it was a serious matter, he would perform istikhara one hundred times”.

"No servant who performs istikhara (seeks Allah’s (swt) guidance) seventy times with this istikhara will be left without Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic, granting him guidance." The supplication is: "O’ the best of those who see, O’ the most hearing of the hearers, O’ the swiftest of reckoners, O’ the most merciful of the merciful, O’ the wisest of judges, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family and guide me in such and such matter."