Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 1195

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Keep the marriage proposal hidden, then make ablution well, then pray as much as Allah wills, then praise and glorify your Lord, then say: 'Allahumma innaka taqdiru wa la aqdiru, wa ta'lamu wa la a'lamu, wa anta 'allamu al-ghuyub, fa-in ra'ayta li fulanata (naming her by her name) khayran li fi dini wa dunyaya wa akhirati fa-qdurha li, wa in kana ghayruha khayran li minha fi dini wa dunyaya wa akhirati fa-qdi li biha', or he said: 'fa-qdurha li' (O Allah! You have power and I have no power, You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of all the unseen. So if You see that such-and-such a woman (thing) (naming her) is better for me in my religion, my worldly life and my Hereafter, then decree her for me; and if someone other than her is better for me than her, then decree that for me)." This is a rare sunnah regarding the prayer of seeking guidance (salat al-istikharah), in whose narration the people of Egypt are alone, and all of its narrators are trustworthy (thiqah); however, the two Shaykhs did not record it.