How is the Salat al-Hajah (Prayer of Need) performed?

A Muslim should strive to fulfill the causes and laws taught by Allah to obtain what they need, and leave the outcome to Allah. Additionally, it is appropriate to perform a prayer with the intention of seeking the fulfillment of a wish related to this world or the Hereafter, for the sake of Allah. This prayer is called “Salat al-Hajah” (the Prayer of Need). Regarding this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “When a person wishes to ask Allah or a human being for something they need, let them first perform ablution well, then pray two rak‘ahs. After that, let them praise Allah, send blessings upon the Messenger, and say:

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ الحَلِيمُ الكَرِيمُ، سُبْحَانَ اللهِ رَبِّ العَرْشِ العَظِيمِ، الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العَالَمِينَ، أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلاَمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ إِثْمٍ لاَ تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلاَّ غَفَرْتَهُ وَلاَ هَمًّا إِلاَّ فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلاَ حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلاَّ قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ.

“There is no god but Allah, the Forbearing, the Generous. Glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I ask You for the means of Your mercy, the causes of Your forgiveness, the attainment of every good, and safety from every sin. Do not leave for me any sin except that You forgive it, nor any worry except that You relieve it, nor any need that is pleasing to You except that You fulfill it, O Most Merciful of the merciful.” (Tirmidhi, Witr, 348 [479]; Ibn Majah, Iqamat al-Salawat, 189 [1384])

The Salat al-Hajah can be performed as either four or two rak‘ahs. There are also narrations that it may be performed as twelve rak‘ahs. If a person performs four rak‘ahs, after reciting al-Fatiha in the first rak‘ah, they recite Ayat al-Kursi three times; in the remaining three rak‘ahs, after al-Fatiha, they recite Surah al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and al-Nas once each. Then, the supplication mentioned above is recited. (Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, 2/28)

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu