Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him) bin Al-Yaman narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) went towards the place of Harrah near the tribe of Banu Muawiyah, and I also followed behind him, until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reached there. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed eight rak‘ahs of Duha prayer, and he made them very long. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) returned and said, "O Hudhaifah (may Allah be pleased with him)! Did I make it too lengthy for you?" I replied, "Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) know best." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "I asked Allah for three things in this prayer. Allah granted me two of my supplications and withheld one. I asked Allah that my Ummah would never be overcome by outsiders, so Allah granted my supplication. And I asked that my Ummah would not be destroyed by famine, so Allah granted this supplication as well. And I asked that there would be no fighting among my Ummah, but this supplication was not granted."

Hazrat Mu'adh bin Jabal narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) once led a prayer and performed a very long prayer. When he finished the prayer, I said: O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! You performed a long prayer. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I performed a prayer of longing and fear, and I asked Allah for three things for my Ummah. Allah granted me two of them and returned one to me. I asked Allah not to impose any enemy upon this Ummah other than themselves, so Allah accepted this supplication. And I asked Allah not to destroy this Ummah by drowning, so Allah accepted this supplication as well. And I also asked that there be no fighting among the people of this Ummah, but this supplication was returned to me.

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.

Hazrat Sa’d narrates that one day the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came towards us from a high place. Until he passed by the mosque of Banu Mu’awiyah. He, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the mosque and performed two units of prayer therein. And we also prayed with him, peace and blessings be upon him. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, made a long supplication to his Lord, then he turned towards us and said: I asked my Lord for three things. So my Lord granted me two and withheld one. I asked my Lord that He not destroy my ummah through famine, so Allah granted this supplication. And I also asked that He not destroy my ummah by drowning, so Allah granted this supplication as well. And I also asked that there be no fighting among my ummah, but Allah did not grant this.