Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah

Contrary to this weak hadith which is narrated from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that he (peace be upon him) said: "When the imam leaves the followers and supplicates only for himself, then he has betrayed them."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would say the takbir for prayer, he would remain silent for a short while. I asked, "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), may my parents be sacrificed for you, what supplication do you recite in your silence between the takbir and the recitation?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I recite this: « اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنْ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنْ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْنِي مِنْ خَطَايَايَ بِاالثَّلْجِ وَالْمَاءِ وَالْبَرَدِ » 'O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O my Lord, purify me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. O Allah, wash me of my sins with snow, water, and hail.'"

Imam Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, says that the hadith narrated from Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, regarding how the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, began the prayer, is related to this chapter, and this chapter is very lengthy; I have explained it in the Kitab al-Kabir.