Sahih Adab al-Mufrad

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to teach us Istikhara (seeking guidance from Allah) in matters just as he would teach us a surah from the Qur'an. When any of you intends to do any work, he should pray two rak'ahs and then say: "O Allah! I seek goodness from You by Your knowledge, and I seek power from You by Your power, and I ask You from Your great bounty, for You have power and I have no power, You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this matter is better for my religion, my livelihood, and my end, or he said: for my present or future affairs, then ordain it for me. And if You know that this matter is bad for my religion, my livelihood, and my end, or for my present or future affairs, then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and ordain good for me wherever it may be, then make me pleased with it." And he should mention the name of his matter.