Reading Soorat al-Baqarah and asking for forgiveness with the intention of getting married
Question

                What is the ruling on Reciting Surat Al-Baqarah and asking for Allah’s forgiveness in order to get married?

This matter has become common nowadays. Some sisters swear by Allah that they did not get married except after they read Al-Baqarah for one month or forty days. Also making istighfaar ‘saying astaghfiru Allah’ thousand times or another specific number with the intention of getting married. I am afraid this is an innovation and fear doing this. Please clarify the matter for us. How true this is?.
Praise be to Allah.
    Marriage is something that is already divinely decreed for a 
    person, as with the rest of his provision. No person will die until all his 
    decreed provision and life span have been completed, as the Prophet  
    (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The Holy Spirit (Jibreel) 
    has inspired to me that no soul will die until it has completed its 
    appointed term and received its provision in full, so fear Allaah and do not 
    be desperate in seeking provision, and no one of you should be temped to 
    seek provision by means of committing sin if it is slow in coming to him, 
    for that which is with Allaah can only be attained by obeying Him.” Narrated 
    by Abu Na’eem in al-Hilyah from the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah; classed 
    as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2085.  

    So you should not be anxious if marriage is delayed. But it 
    is prescribed for young men and women to implement the means of attaining 
    that provision (marriage), which includes du’aa’. So you should ask Allaah 
    to provide you with a righteous husband. 

    Seeking forgiveness is one of the means of provision being 
    expanded. Allaah, may He be exalted, tells us that Nooh (peace be upon him) 
    said to his people: 

    “ ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is 
    Oft‑Forgiving;

    11. ‘He will send rain to you in abundance,

    12. ‘And give you increase in wealth and children, and 
    bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’”

    [Nooh 71:10-12]

    Du’aa’ is a mighty weapon for the one who uses it well. Pray 
    to Allaah with the attitude of certainty that He will respond, and strive 
    for the causes of du’aa’ being accepted, such as ensuring that your food and 
    drink are halaal and choosing times of special virtue. Beware of seeking to 
    hasten a response. The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon 
    him) said: “The du’aa’ of any one of you will be answered so long as he does 
    not seek to hasten it, and does not say, ‘I made du’aa’ but I had no 
    answer.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5865) and Muslim (2735) from the hadeeth 
    of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). 

    You should understand that du’aa’ will be stored up for a 
    person and will benefit him in all circumstances, as it says in the hadeeth 
    narrated by al-Tirmidhi (3859) from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with 
    him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah 
    be upon him) said: “There is no man who prays to Allaah and makes du’aa’ to 
    Him, and does not receive a response. Either it will be hastened for him in 
    this world, or it will be stored up for him in the Hereafter, so long as he 
    does not pray for something sinful, or to cut the ties of kinship, or seek a 
    speedy response.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, what does seeking a 
    speedy response mean?” He said, “Saying, ‘I prayed to my Lord and He did not 
    answer me.’” Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 
    no. 2852. 

    Reading Qur’aan is effective in dealing with worry and 
    anxiety, and bringing happiness and peace of mind. The same is true of 
    seeking forgiveness. 

    Doing a lot of acts of worship in general is a means of 
    attaining happiness, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — 
    while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him 
    We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful 
    provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the 
    best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)”

    [al-Nahl 16:97]

    “And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He 
    will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

    3. And He will provide him from (sources) he never could 
    imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. 
    Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure 
    for all things”

    [al-Talaaq 65:2-3]

    For the one who does a lot of these acts of worship, and 
    regularly prays on time, recites dhikr, prayers for forgiveness and du’aa’, 
    and reads Qur'aan, there is the hope of divine help and happiness, and that 
    she will achieve what she wants and seeks. But it is not prescribed to 
    worship Allaah by defining a specific number or time (for acts of worship) 
    that is not narrated in sharee’ah. Rather that is bid’ah (innovation), which 
    is one of the causes of one's deeds being rejected and of the person being 
    deprived of reward, as the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be 
    upon him) said: “The one who does any action that is not part of this matter 
    of ours (Islam) will have it rejected.” Narrated by Muslim (1718). 

    There is no report in sharee’ah – as far as we know – which 
    suggests that reading Soorat al-Baqarah in particular or praying for 
    forgiveness a certain number of times is a means of getting married. Rather 
    obedience to Allaah and following His Messenger  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) in general are the means of attaining happiness and of 
    things being made easier in this world and in the Hereafter. 

    We ask Allaah to make things easy for you and to bless you 
    with a righteous husband. 

    And Allaah knows best.