Du'aa of Istikhaarah

Walaikum Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh,

 

Am sorry for the delayed response, br. Had problem with my system {It seems that it had virus}

 

Am sharing a hadith below, which has in its bracket {after the prayer}.

 

The Prophet Muhammad said, "If one of you is concerned about some practical undertaking, or about making plans for a journey, he should perform two cycles (rak'atain) of voluntary prayer." Then he/she should say the following du'a:----

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to teach us the way of doing Istikhara (Istikhara means to ask Allah to guide one to the right sort of action concerning any job or a deed), in all matters as he taught us the Suras of the Quran. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two Rakat prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi-qudratika, Wa asaluka min fadlika al-'azim Fa-innaka taqdiru Wala aqdiru, Wa ta'lamu Wala a'lamu, Wa anta 'allamu l-ghuyub. Allahumma, in kunta ta'lam anna hadha-l-amra Khairun li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri (or 'ajili amri wa'ajilihi) Faqdirhu li wa yas-sirhu li thumma barik li Fihi, Wa in kunta ta'lamu anna hadha-lamra shar-run li fi dini wa ma'ashi wa'aqibati amri (or fi'ajili amri wa ajilihi) Fasrifhu anni was-rifni anhu. Waqdir li al-khaira haithu kana Thumma ardini bihi.

 

If you have got any other answer thru hadiths, you can kindly share it us with us. Most of the scholars taught us to recite this dua, after the salah.

 

Thank you Chrysalis for your input.  I have a question to ask though, i posted up there but got no reply. 
allahumma in kunta taAAlamu anna hathal-amr....(after this line do you say what it is you want. or do you just go on saying??) khayrun lee fee deenee wamaAAashee waAAaqibati amree.

 

Ans seekshidayath said...It is reported in a Hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Anas, when you intend to do some important things, then seek the good (seek Istikharah) from your Lord seven times and then do that to which your heart (or mind) is inclined, because the good is in it."

 

What does this mean? do you have to recite the dua 7 times? or do you have to do 7, 2 rakat prayers?  and also can you say the dua before giving sallam or do you have to do it after you give sallam?

 

Sorry for the amount of questions, but I want to learn everything I possibly can about this Amazing Dua.  Your help is greatly appreciated.  Thank you.