Fortress of the Muslim
Hisn al-Muslim 74
قال جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما : كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، يُعلمنا الاستخارة في الأمور كلها كما يعلمُنا 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 تقدِرُ ولا أقدِرُ ، وتعلم ولا أعلم ، وأنت علام الغيوب ، اللهم إن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر - يسمي حاجته - خير لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري - أو قال : عاجله وآجله - فاقدره لي ويسره لي ، ثم بارك لي فيه ، وإن كنت تعلم أن هذا الأمر شر لي في ديني ومعاشي وعاقبة أمري - أو قال : عاجله وآجله - فاصرفه عني واصرفني عنه ، واقدر لي الخير حيث كان ، ثم ارضني به " وما ندم من استخار الخالق، وشاور المخلوقين المؤمنين وتثبَّت في أمره، فقد قال سبحانه ﴿وَشـاوِرْهُـم في الأمْـرِ فَـإِذا عَـزَمْـتَ فَتَوَكّـلْ عَلـى الله﴾
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach us how to seek the best choice in all matters, just as he taught us a surah from the Qur'an. He would say: When one of you considers a matter, let him pray two rak'ahs apart from the obligatory prayer, then say:
“O Allah, I seek the best choice from You by Your knowledge, and I seek ability from You by Your power, and I ask You from Your immense bounty. You have power, and I have no power; You know, and I do not know; You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter—[he names his need]—to be good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affair—or, he said, in its short and long term—then ordain it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. And if You know this matter to be bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affair—or, he said, in its short and long term—then turn it away from me and turn me away from it. Ordain good for me wherever it may be, then make me content with it.”
One who seeks the Creator's guidance, consults believing people, and considers his matter carefully will not regret it. For Allah, Glorified is He, said: “Consult them in the matter; then when you have resolved, put your trust in Allah.”
Translation notes
وما ندم من استخار الخالق،
The Arabic source continues after the quoted supplication with counsel and a Qur'anic quotation absent from the English witness; the continuation's speaker is not identified in the source roles.
Is this closing continuation a compiler's comment or part of the attributed report?