(10) This report goes back to Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her. Abu Salama ibn Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf narrates: “I asked Aisha, Mother of the Believers: ‘With what words did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ open his prayer when he rose at night?’ She replied: ‘When he rose at night he would begin his prayer by saying …,’ and she recited it.” It is recorded by Muslim (2/185); Abu Dawud (1/122–123); al-Nasa’i (1/241–42); al-Tirmidhi (2/250, Bulaq ed.), who judged it sound; and Ibn Majah (1/410), all through the chain of Umar ibn Yunus. Abu Awana (2/305) also transmits it through Asim ibn Ali. Both routes say: “Ikrima ibn Ammar narrated to us; Yahya ibn Abi Kathir narrated to us; Abu Salama conveyed it.” Ibn Majah alone adds: Abd al-Rahman ibn Umar—the shaykh from whom Ibn Majah received the report—said, “Memorize it: it is ‘Jibra’il,’ with a hamzah, for that is how it came from the Prophet ﷺ.” Imam Ahmad likewise records it (6/156) through Qurad Abu Nuh—whose personal name is Abd al-Rahman ibn Ghazwan, a trustworthy narrator cited by al-Bukhari—with the wording: “When he rose he would pronounce the takbir and say …,” and he quoted the supplication. Al-Nadr ibn Muhammad corroborated him; the same wording appears in Abu Awana (2/304–305) and Ibn Nasr (no. 44). (1) I.e., the One who originated and fashioned them. Al-ghayb (the unseen) is what lies beyond human perception, whereas al-shahadah is its opposite. (2) Meaning: increase me in guidance, or keep me firm; the request is for added guidance, not merely for what one already possesses.