Method of performance

1. Perform Ghusl
   Ghusl
   Ghusl is an Arabic term referring to the full ablution required in Islam for various rituals and prayers. The ablution becomes mandatory for any adult Muslim after having sexual intercourse, any sexual discharge , completion of the menstrual cycle, giving birth, and death by natural causes.Islam...
   
   by way of Irtimasi (submerging the whole body in water, either in stages or at once) or by way of Tartibi (wiping the body with water).
2. Perform wudu
   Wudu
   Wuḍhu is the Islamic procedure for washing parts of the body using water often in preparation for formal prayers...
   
   
3. Perform a 4 rakah prayer. It is the same as a regular 4 prayer except the following, which the one offering the prayer says in every rakah:
   1. Surah
      Sura
      A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
      
       al-Fatiha
      Al-Fatiha
      Sura Al-Fatiha , is the first chapter of the Qur'an. Its seven verses are a prayer for Allah's guidance, and stress His Lordship and Mercy...
      
       once
   2. Surah
      Sura
      A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
      
       al-Ikhlas three times
   3. Surah
      Sura
      A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
      
       al-Falaq once
   4. Surah
      Sura
      A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
      
       an-Nas once
4. After the prayer, say Astaghfirullah rabbi wa atubu 'ilayh
5. After saying the above, say: Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billaahil a'liyyil a'zeem. Then say: Yaa A'zeezo yaa ghaffooro ighfirli zunoobi wa zunooba Jamee'il mo-mineena wal mo-minaate. Fa innahu laa yaghfiro illa ant.

External links

• http://www.duas.org/na_istegh.htm contains the Hadith
  Hadith
  The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
  
   detailing the method, as described by the Prophet
  Muhammad
  Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...