Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Suhaib narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray, he would say something quietly, about which he had not informed us. So we asked: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Indeed, just now when you prayed, you said something quietly which we could not understand. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Did you notice what I was reciting? We said: Yes! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I remembered the story of a prophet from among the prophets, whose nation’s army was made subservient to him. So, looking at that army, he said: Who is there that can take revenge on this? The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then it was said to them: Choose one of three things for your people: either a non-enemy is set upon them, or hunger and famine, or death. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He presented these three things to his people. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: His people said: You are Allah’s prophet, you choose one for us. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Then he stood for prayer. He also said: When they feared anything, they would seek refuge in prayer. So that prophet prayed, then said: O Allah! If You were to set the enemy upon them, then do not do so; or hunger, then not that either, but grant death. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Death was imposed upon his people. So, within three days, seventy thousand people from his nation perished in the valley of death. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So, what I was reciting quietly, which you heard, I was reciting this supplication: O Allah! I plan only with Your help, and I attack only with Your help, and there is no power to do so except with Your help.