Way of doing Istikhara

Sahih Bukhari 2.263:

Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah : The Prophet (p.b.u.h) 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 Qur'an. He said, "If anyone of you thinks of doing any job he should offer a two rak`at prayer other than the compulsory ones and say (after the prayer): −− 'Allahumma inni astakhiruka bi'ilmika, Wa astaqdiruka bi−qudratika, Wa as'alaka min fadlika Al−`azlm 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 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.' (O Allah! I ask guidance from Your knowledge, And Power from Your Might and I ask for Your great blessings. You are capable and I am not. You know and I do not and You know the unseen. O Allah! If You know that this job is good for my religion and my subsistence and in my Hereafter−−(or said: If it is better for my present and later needs)−−Then You ordain it for me and make it easy for me to get, And then bless me in it, and if You know that this job is harmful to me In my religion and subsistence and in the Hereafter−−(or said: If it is worse for my present and later needs)−−Then keep it away from me and let me be away from it. And ordain for me whatever is good for me, And make me satisfied with it). The Prophet added that then the person should name (mention) his need.

two rak`at before the Fajr prayer so light

Sahih Bukhari 2.262:

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to make the two rak`at before the Fajr prayer so light that I would wonder whether he recited Al−Fatiha (or not).

Important of Sunna of the Fajr prayer

Sahih Bukhari 2.260

Narrated `Aisha: The Prophet was never more regular and particular in offering any Nawafil than the two rak`at (Sunna) of the Fajr prayer.

His prayer will be accepted

Sahih Bukhari 2.253 :

Narrated 'Ubada bin As−Samit: The Prophet "Whoever gets up at night and says: −− 'La ilaha il−lallah Wahdahu la Sharika lahu Lahu−l−mulk, waLahu−l−hamd wahuwa 'ala kullishai'in Qadir. Al hamdu lil−lahi wa subhanal−lahi wa la−ilaha il−lal−lah wa−l−lahu akbar wa la hawla Wala Quwata il−la−bil−lah.' (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. He is the Only One and has no partners . For Him is the Kingdom and all the praises are due for Him. He is Omnipotent. All the praises are for Allah. All the glories are for Allah. And none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, And Allah is Great And there is neither Might nor Power Except with Allah). And then says: −− Allahumma, Ighfir li (O Allah! Forgive me). Or invokes (Allah), he will be responded to and if he performs ablution (and prays), his prayer will be accepted."

"How is the night prayer of the Prophet?"

Sahih Bukhari 2.247

Narrated Al−Aswad: I asked `Aisha "How is the night prayer of the Prophet?" She replied, "He used to sleep early at night, and get up in its last part to pray, and then return to his bed. When the Mu'adh−dhin pronounced the Adhan, he would get up. If he was in need of a bath he would take it; otherwise he would perform ablution and then go out (for the prayer)."

Special in last third of the night

Sahih Bukhari 2.246

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: "Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?"

Masjid Aisha

Masjid Aisha, also known as Masjid at-Tan’eem marks the place where Ummul-Mu’mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) went to enter into Ihram for Umrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told her to do so during the farewell Hajj. The masjid lies 7.5 km south from Makkah on the road to Madinah and is the closest of all the boundary points.

• Jaabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that because Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was experiencing menstrual cycle the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) instructed her to perform all the various rites of Hajj except for the tawaf. She then performed the tawaaf after her cycle had ended. She then said, “O Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allah be on him)! While you have performed Hajj and Umrah, I have performed only Hajj.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) then instructed her brother Abdur-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) to take her to Tan’eem and it was from there that she performed her Umrah after her Hajj during the month of Dhul Hijjah.

References:  The History of Makkah Mukarramah – Dr. Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani, Holy Makkah – Shaikh Safiur-Rahman Mubarakpuri , islamiclandmarks.com

three knots

Sahih Bukhari 2.237: Narrated Hudhaifa : Whenever the Prophet got up for Tahajjud prayer he used to clean his mouth (and teeth) with Siwak.

Sahih Bukhari 2.243: Narrated Abu Huraira Allah's Apostle said, "Satan puts three knots at the back of the head of any of you if he is asleep. On every knot he reads and exhales the following words, 'The night is long, so stay asleep.' When one wakes up and remembers Allah, one knot is undone; and when one performs ablution, the second knot is undone, and when one prays the third knot is undone and one gets up energetic with a good heart in the morning; otherwise one gets up lazy and with a mischievous heart."

"The most beloved prayer and fasts to Allah

Sahih Bukhari 2.231

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr bin Al−`As: Allah's Apostle told me, "The most beloved prayer to Allah is that of David and the most beloved fasts to Allah are those of David. He used to sleep for half of the night and then pray for one third of the night and again sleep for its sixth part and used to fast on alternate days."

"should I not be a thankful slave."

Sahih Bukhari 2.230

Narrated Al−Mughira: The Prophet used to stand (in the prayer) or pray till both his feet or legs swelled. He was asked why (he offered such an unbearable prayer) and he said, "should I not be a thankful slave."

cover the shoulders

Sahih Bukhari 1.355

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "None of you should offer prayer in a single garment that does not cover the shoulders."

Duha prayer

Sahih Bukhari 1.353: Narrated Abu Murra: (the freed slave of Um Hani) Um Hani, the daughter of Abi Talib said, "I went to Allah's Apostle in the year of the conquest of Mecca and found him taking a bath and his daughter Fatima was screening him. I greeted him. He asked, 'Who is she?' I replied, 'I am Um Hani bint Abi Talib.' He said, 'Welcome! O Um Hani.' When he finished his bath he stood up and prayed eight rak`at while wearing a single garment wrapped round his body and when he finished I said, 'O Allah's Apostle ! My brother has told me that he will kill a person whom I gave shelter and that person is so and so the son of Hubaira.' The Prophet said, 'We shelter the person whom you have sheltered.' " Um Ham added, "And that was before noon (Duha).

Prophet says

Sahih Bukhari 1.144

Narrated Anas: Whenever the Prophet went to answer the call of nature, he used to say, "Allah−umma inni a`udhu bika minal khubuthi wal khaba'ith i.e. O Allah, I seek Refuge with You from all offensive and wicked things (evil deeds and evil spirits).

Satan will never be able to harm that offspring

Sahih Bukhari 1.143: Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet said, "If anyone of you on having sexual relations with his wife said (and he must say it before starting) 'In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us (i.e. the coming offspring) from Satan, and if it is destined that they should have a child then, Satan will never be able to harm that offspring."

increase radiance

Sahih Bukhari 1.138

Narrated Nu`am Al−Mujmir: Once I went up the roof of the mosque, along with Abu Huraira. He perform ablution and said, "I heard the Prophet saying, "On the Day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Al−Ghurr−ul−Muhajjalun" from the trace of ablution and whoever can increase the area of his radiance should do so (i.e. by performing ablution regularly).' "