What is the stance of Islamic law and the four schools of thought on the method of performing Istikhara prayer by repeating Surat Al-Qadr seven times in each rak'ah, and waiting for the body to rotate right or left as a sign of the answer? Is this method considered correct or an innovation (bid'ah)? If it is an innovation, then who is rotating the body? And can Satan delude the worshiper with incorrect things during prayer?

The fundamental principle in acts of worship is tawqif (restriction to what is legislated), and it has not been reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he specified the Istikhara prayer with the recitation of Surat Al-Qadr seven times, or with any other Surah (definition). The description of the Istikhara prayer was explained by the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with both of them), and it consists of two rak'ahs from supererogatory prayers, followed by supplicating with the reported supplication mentioned in the Hadith (definition), while naming one's need in its appropriate place within the supplication.

What a person does by specifying the recitation of Surat Al-Qadr seven times after Al-Fatiha in the Istikhara prayer is an innovated bid'ah (innovation). And what he claims about the body rotating right or left as a result of that, and that angels do this, is from the actions of devils to adorn evil and innovations. Bid'ah is more beloved to Iblis than a sin because it is not repented from. One must beware of these superstitions, which are from the deception of Shaytan, for Allah is not worshipped except through what is obligatory or recommended.