Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 31782 — What the Prophet (peace and blessings)

Sayyiduna Ibn Abi Awfa (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A bedouin came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), teach me something that will take the place of the Qur'an for me, for I cannot recite any part of the Qur'an well." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: "Recite these words: Allah is free of all defects, all praise belongs to Allah, there is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power to avoid sins and no strength to do good except with the help of Allah." The bedouin counted these five phrases on his hands. Then after a little while he turned back, and then he returned and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), these words are for my Lord. So what is for me?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Say: O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me provision, grant me well-being, and guide me." The bedouin counted these five things on his hand as well. Then he left, and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If the bedouin fulfills what he has said, he has filled both his hands with good."