How to Perform the Prayer of Need and the Prayer of Seeking Guidance
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Fatwa No. ( 4193 )
Q: I have heard a lot about the prayer of need and the prayer of seeking guidance. How are these two prayers performed? And are there specific surahs or verses to recite in each of their rak'ahs? What are the narrated supplications for them?
A: The prayer of seeking guidance and its description are mentioned in the noble hadith narrated by the group of scholars except for Muslim from Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:Riyad as-Salihin 717 .
As for the recitation in it, one recites al-Fatihah and whatever is easy from the Qur'an after it; a complete surah or part of a surah. As for what is called the prayer of need: it has come in weak and denounced hadiths—as far as we know—on which no proof is established, and which are not suitable for building an act of worship upon. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I have heard a lot about the prayer of need and the prayer of seeking guidance. How are these two prayers performed? And are there specific surahs or verses to recite in each of their rak'ahs? What are the narrated supplications for them?
A: The prayer of seeking guidance and its description are mentioned in the noble hadith narrated by the group of scholars except for Muslim from Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach us the Istikharah (seeking guidance from Allah) in all matters as he would teach us a Surah of the Qur'an. He used to say: "When one of you contemplates entering upon an enterprise, let him perform two Rak'ah of optional prayer other than Fard prayers and then supplicate: "Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi 'ilmika, wa astaqdiruka bi qudratika, wa as-'aluka min fadlikal-'azim. Fainnaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa Anta 'allamul- ghuyub. Allahumma in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal-'amra (and name what you want to do) khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, (or he said) 'ajili amri ajilihi, faqdurhu li wa yassirhu li, thumma barik li fihi. Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadhal 'amra (and name what you want to do) sharrun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa 'aqibati amri, (or he said) wa 'ajili amri wa ajilihi, fasrifhu 'anni, wasrifni 'anhu, waqdur liyal- khaira haithu kana, thumma ardini bihi." (O Allah, I consult You through Your Knowledge, and I seek strength through Your Power, and ask of Your Great Bounty; for You are Capable whereas I am not and, You know and I do not, and You are the Knower of hidden things. O Allah, if You know that this matter (and name it) is good for me in respect of my Deen, my livelihood and the consequences of my affairs, (or he said), the sooner or the later of my affairs then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. But if You know this matter (and name it) to be bad for my Deen, my livelihood or the consequences of my affairs, (or he said) the sooner or the later of my affairs then turn it away from me, and turn me away from it, and grant me power to do good whatever it may be, and cause me to be contented with it). And let the supplicant specify the object." [Al-Bukhari]
كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يعلمنا الاستخارة في الأمور كلها كما يعلمنا السورة من القرآن، يقول: إذا هم أحدكم بالأمر فليركع ركعتين من غير الفريضة ثم ليقل: اللهم إني أستخيرك بعلمك، وأستقدرك بقدرتك، وأسألك من فضلك العظيم، فإنك تقدر ولا أقدر وتعلم ولا أعلم، وأنت علام الغيوب، اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري -أو قال عاجل أمري وآجله- فاقدره لي ويسره لي، ثم بارك لي فيه، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري -أو قال عاجل أمري وآجله- فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان، ثم أرضني به، قال: ويسمي حاجتهAs for the recitation in it, one recites al-Fatihah and whatever is easy from the Qur'an after it; a complete surah or part of a surah. As for what is called the prayer of need: it has come in weak and denounced hadiths—as far as we know—on which no proof is established, and which are not suitable for building an act of worship upon. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.