Supplication for seeking guidance in forming a decision or choosing the proper course…etc _Al-Istikharah

on the authority of jabir ibn aaabdullah  he said: ’the prophet  would instruct us to pray for guidance in all of our concerns, just as he would teach us a chapter from the quran.  he would say ’ if any of you intends to undertake a matter then let him pray two supererogatory units (two rakaaah nafilah) of prayer and after which he should supplicate:

allahumma innee astakheeruka biaailmik, wa-astaqdiruka biqudratik, wa-as-aluka min fadlikal-aaatheem, fa-innaka taqdiru wala aqdir, wataaalamu wala aaalam ,wa-anta aaallamul ghuyoob, allahumma in kunta taaalamu anna hathal-amr (say your need) khayrun lee fee deenee wamaaaashee waaaaqibati amree faqdurhu lee, wayassirhu lee, thumma barik lee feeh, wa-in kunta taaalamu anna hathal-amr sharrun lee fee deenee wamaaaashee waaaaqibati amree fasrifhu aaannee wasrifnee aaanh, waqdur liyal-khayra haythu kan, thumma ardinee bih.

‘o allah, i seek your counsel by your knowledge and by your power i seek strength and i ask you from your immense favour, for verily you are able while i am not and verily you know while i do not and you are the knower of the unseen.  o allah, if you know this affair -and here he mentions his need- to be good for me in relation to my religion, my life, and end, then decree and facilitate it for me, and bless me with it, and if you know this affair to be ill for me towards my religion, my life, and end, then remove it from me and remove me from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it be and make me satisfied with such.’

one who seeks guidance from his creator and consults his fellow believers and then remains firm in his resolve does not regret, for allah has said:

"washawirhum fee al-amri fa-itha aaazamta fatawakkal aaala allah"

(chapter 3 verse 159)

‘…and consult them in the affair. then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in allah…’