Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Umrah says that I asked Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the manner of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace and blessings be upon him) prayer, so she replied, "When the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would begin to perform ablution, he would first place his hand in the water and recite «بسم الله», then perform ablution and complete it thoroughly and in an excellent manner."