In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب الاستخارة والمشاورة
Chapter on the prayer for making a decision and consulting others.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/231
Allah Almighty said:
فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
So pardon them, ask Allah’s forgiveness for them, and consult with them in conducting matters. Once you make a decision, put your trust in Allah. Surely, Allah loves those who trust in Him.
Surat Ali ‘Imran 3:159
And Allah said:
وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَمْرُهُمْ شُورَىٰ بَيْنَهُمْ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
Those who respond to their Lord, establish prayer, conduct their affairs by mutual consultation, and donate from what We have provided for them
Surat al-Shura 42:38
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا هَمَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِالْأَمْرِ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ مِنْ غَيْرِ الْفَرِيضَةِ ثُمَّ لِيَقُلْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْتَخِيرُكَ بِعِلْمِكَ وَأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بِقُدْرَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ الْعَظِيمِ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ خَيْرٌ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاقْدُرْهُ لِي وَيَسِّرْهُ لِي ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لِي فِيهِ وَإِنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أَنَّ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ شَرٌّ لِي فِي دِينِي وَمَعَاشِي وَعَاقِبَةِ أَمْرِي أَوْ قَالَ فِي عَاجِلِ أَمْرِي وَآجِلِهِ فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي وَاصْرِفْنِي عَنْهُ وَاقْدُرْ لِي الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ ثُمَّ أَرْضِنِي وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ
When one of you has a matter of concern, let him perform two cycles of prayer besides the obligatory prayers. Then, let him say, ‘O Allah, I seek guidance from Your knowledge and power from Your might, and I ask You from Your tremendous favor. Verily, You have power and I do not have power, and You know and I do not know. You are the Knowing of the Unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter is good for my religion, my livelihood, and my fate, or if it is better for my present and latter needs, then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless me in it. But if You know this matter is evil for my religion, my livelihood, and my fate, or if it is worse for my present and latter needs, then divert it from me, keep me away from it, decree what is good for me, and then make me content with it.’ Then, let him mention his need.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1166, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
