Abullah ibn Abi Awfa (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Whoever has a need with Allah, or with any human being, then let them perform ritual ablutions well and then pray two Rakats. After that, let them praise Allah and send blessings on the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). After this, let them say;
"La ilaha illallahul Halimul karim, Subhanallahi Rabbil Arshil Azim, Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin, Asaluka Mujibaati Rahmatika Wa Azaa'ima maghfiratika Wal Ghanimata Min Kulli Birrin, Was salamata Min Kulli Ithmin, La Tada' Li Zanmban Illa Ghafartahu, Wa la Hamman Illa Farrajtahu, Wa la hajatan hiya Laka Ridhan Illa Qadhaitaha, Ya Arhamar Rahimeen."
There there no god but Allah the Clement and Wise.
There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty.
Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne.
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin.
Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!”
(Related by Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah. The Hadith has some weakness, but it is slight: such Hadiths are acted upon for virtuous deeds (fada’il al-a`mal) by general agreement of the scholars)
Nawawi (rah) mentioned the narration of Ibn Abi Awfa (ra) in his Kitaab al Adhkaar, and made no comment on it, thus he regarded sound.
The prayer of need is very simple: It is essentially to raise one's need to Allah Most High, by performing ritual ablution (Wudu), praying 2 Rakats, and then making whole-hearted Dua to Allah. If one uses the abovementioned Prophetic supplication, or other similar supplications transmitted from the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), it is best.
