Abu Ayyub reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Keep your marriage proposal secret. Then, perform ablution in the best manner, pray for as much as Allah has written for you, praise and glorify your Lord, and then say: O Allah, you decree and none can decree against you. You know best and I do not know, for you are the Knower of the unseen. If you see good for me in this woman – and mention her name – in my religion, my worldly affairs, and my Hereafter, or if you see one better than her in my religion, my worldly affairs, and my Hereafter, then decree it for me through her.”
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 23085
Grade: Sahih li ghayrihi (authentic due to external evidence) according to Al-Arna’ut
عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْأَنْصَارِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَهُ اكْتُمِ الْخِطْبَةَ ثُمَّ تَوَضَّأْ فَأَحْسِنْ وُضُوءَكَ وَصَلِّ مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكَ ثُمَّ احْمَدْ رَبَّكَ وَمَجِّدْهُ ثُمَّ قُلْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ وَلَا أَقْدِرُ وَتَعْلَمُ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ فَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ لِي فِي فُلَانَةَ تُسَمِّيهَا بِاسْمِهَا خَيْرًا فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرُهَا خَيْرًا لِي مِنْهَا فِي دِينِي وَدُنْيَايَ وَآخِرَتِي فَاقْضِ لِي بِهَا
23085 مسند أحمد بن حنبل
23596 المحدث شعيب الأرناؤوط خلاصة حكم المحدث صحيح لغيره في تخريج المسند