The Prayer of Seeking Guidance (Istikhara)
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 84
وَ رَوَى حَمَّادُ بْنُ عِيسَى عَنْ نَاجِيَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: «أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا أَرَادَ شِرَاءَ اَلْعَبْدِ أَوِ اَلدَّابَّةِ أَوِ اَلْحَاجَةَ اَلْخَفِيفَةَ أَوِ اَلشَّيْءَ اَلْيَسِيرَ اِسْتَخَارَ اَللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهِ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ فَإِذَا كَانَ أَمْراً جَسِيماً اِسْتَخَارَ اَللَّهَ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ.
Hammad ibn Isa narrated from Najiyah, from Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام that "Whenever He عليه السلام intended to purchase a servant, an animal, or a light matter, or something of little importance, he would perform istikhara (seek Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى guidance) seven times. But if it was a serious matter, he would perform istikhara one hundred times”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh