The Ruling on the Prayers of Repentance and Need

Question:
He has a final question. The brother from Sudan asks: Is there a prayer called, first, the Prayer of Repentance, and second, the Prayer of Need? What is their ruling in the Shari'ah? May Allah reward you.

Answer:
The Prayer of Repentance is when a person knows that he has committed a sin and wants to repent. He has a choice: if he wishes, he may repent without a specific prayer; rather, he repents to Allah, feels remorse, and that is sufficient. And if he prays a prayer intending to seek nearness to Allah through it for the acceptance of his repentance, there is no harm. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that whoever purifies himself and then prays two rak'ahs, having committed a sin, then purifies himself and prays two rak'ahs, then seeks forgiveness from his Lord, Allah will forgive him. So praying two rak'ahs, then supplicating to his Lord, seeking forgiveness, and repenting to Him is among the means of forgiveness. This is called the Prayer of Repentance. And the Prayer of Need is the prayer of istikharah. Yes.