He ﷺ also said, “The speech Allah loves most is for the servant to say: Subḥānaka-llāhumma (Glory be to You, O Allah!). …”

6- A similar formula, to which he would add in the night prayer: “Lā ilāha illā Allah (There is no god but Allah)”—three times; “Allāhu akbar kabīran (Allah is Most Great, immeasurably so)”—three times.

7- “Allāhu akbar kabīran, wa-l-ḥamdu lillāhi kathīran, wa subḥāna-llāhi bukratan wa aṣīlā (Allah is Most Great, infinitely so; praise be to Allah abundantly; glory be to Allah morning and evening).” A man from the Companions opened his prayer with this, and the Prophet ﷺ said, “I was amazed by it—it caused the gates of heaven to be opened.”

8- “Al-ḥamdu lillāh ḥamdan kathīran ṭayyiban mubārakan fīh (Praise be to Allah—praise that is plentiful, pure, and blessed).” When another man used this to begin his prayer, the Prophet ﷺ said, “I saw twelve angels racing to lift it up—each eager to be the one who carried it.”

9- “O Allah, to You belongs all praise; You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all who dwell therein. To You belongs all praise; You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all who dwell therein. [To You belongs all praise; You are the Sovereign of the heavens and the earth and all who dwell therein.] To You belongs all praise; You are the Truth; Your promise is true; Your word is true; meeting You is true; Paradise is true; Hell is true; the Hour is true; the prophets are true; and Muhammad is true. O Allah, to You I submit, upon You I rely, in You I believe, to You I repent, by You I contend, and to You I refer for judgment. [You are our Lord, and to You is the final return. So forgive me my past and future sins, what I have done secretly and what I have done openly] [and whatever You know of me better than I]. You are the One who brings forward and the One who defers; [You are my God]; there is no god but You; [there is no power and no might except through You].” He ﷺ would recite this in the night prayer, as he did with the following varieties:

10- “O Allah, Lord of Gabriel, Michael, and Israfil, Originator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and the seen! You judge between Your servants concerning that over which they differ. Guide me, by Your leave, to the truth of that wherein they differed; truly, You guide whom You will to a straight path.”

11- He would declare Allah’s greatness ten times, praise Him ten times, glorify Him ten times, proclaim His oneness ten times, and seek His forgiveness ten times, then say: “O Allah, forgive me, guide me, provide for me, [and grant me well-being]” ten times. He would also say: “O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the distress of the Day of Reckoning” ten times.

12- “Allāhu akbar [three times]; He is the Possessor of dominion, irresistible might, majesty, and grandeur.” (p. 238–269)

Recitation

Thereafter the Prophet ﷺ would seek refuge in Allah, saying, “I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan—from his whispering, his puffing, and his spitting.” At times he would lengthen it, saying, “I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan ….” Then he would recite, “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,” but he would not raise his voice with it. (p. 270–292)