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.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) made supplication in this mosque, "Masjid al-Fath," on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. His supplication was accepted on Wednesday between the two prayers. Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) says: Whenever any distressing matter befell me that would make me angry, I would seek out that very hour. I would supplicate to Allah at that hour between the two prayers on Wednesday, and I would come to know of the acceptance of the supplication. Whenever any important task or matter came before me, I would specify that time and supplicate between the two prayers on Wednesday, and I saw that the supplication was accepted.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says that I was with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a man made supplication and said: «يا بديع السماوات يا حي يا قيوم! إني أسألك» "O Originator of the heavens, O Giver of life to all, O Sustainer of all, I ask You." So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do you know how he supplicated? By the One in Whose hand is my soul, he has called upon Allah by His Name, which, when He is called upon by it, He responds."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), "Tell me a supplication that I may say in my prayer." He said: Say, «اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلماً كثيراً ، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت ، فاغفر لي من عندك مغفرة ، إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم» "I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins except You, so forgive me with a complete forgiveness, for You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful."