Silsilat al-Ahadith al-Sahihah

Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray, he would quietly say some words. (One day he) asked us: "Did you understand anything?" In fact, I remembered one of the previous prophets among the prophets, to whom many armies were given from his people. That prophet said: Who is equal to them, or who will face them? Or he said something similar. Allah Almighty revealed to him: Choose one of these three things for your people: I will set their enemy over them, or hunger, or death. He consulted his people. They replied: You are Allah's prophet, so we leave this matter to you. He stood up and began to pray. Whenever they became anxious, they would resort to prayer. He said: O my Lord! Do not impose hunger or the enemy, let it be death. Allah Almighty imposed death upon them for three days. Seventy thousand of them died. That is why I quietly say these words, as you have heard: O Allah! I fight by Your guidance, I confront by Your guidance, and there is no power to avoid evil and no strength to do good except by Your guidance."