The number of rak'ahs in the prayer of istikharah and its supplication

Question:
May Allah reward you and bless you. This is a listener to the program, E. A. D., who says: Regarding the prayer of istikharah, I hope you will speak about it. How many rak'ahs does it have, and what is the specific supplication for it? And is there istikharah in other acts of worship? As it came in the hadith, one prays only two rak'ahs and then makes the supplication.

Answer:
He says: You know and I do not know, You have power and I do not have power, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if this matter—and he names it—is good for me in the immediate and ultimate aspects of my affair, then make it easy for me. If this matter is good for me in my religion, the immediate and ultimate aspects of my affair, then decree it for me and make it easy for me. And if there is evil in it for me in my religion, the immediate or ultimate aspects of my affair, then turn me away from it and turn it away from me, and decree for me the good wherever it may be, and then make me content with it. Istikharah is for important matters where a person hesitates whether to do them or not, such as travel, marriage, or partnering with a person. Other than that, important matters. As for ordinary things, they do not require istikharah. Likewise, clear matters in prayer, zakah, Hajj, and matters of obedience do not require istikharah, because the good is apparent in them and they do not need istikharah. Yes.