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 all important matters just as he would teach us a surah from the Qur'an. (He, peace be upon him, would say:) "When any one of you intends to undertake an important task, he should perform two rak'ahs (units) of voluntary prayer, 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. Surely, You have power and I have none, and You know and I do not know, and You are the Knower of the unseen. O Allah! If, in Your knowledge, this matter is good for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs—immediate or later—then decree it for me, make it easy for me, and bless it for me. And if, in Your knowledge, this matter is bad for me in my religion, my livelihood, and the outcome of my affairs—immediate or later—then turn it away from me and turn me away from it, and decree for me what is good wherever it may be, and make me pleased with it.'" And he should mention his need and the name of the task."