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."

Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray, he would quietly say some words; I neither understood them nor did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) tell us. (One day) he asked: "Did you notice that I say some words?" We said: "Yes." He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "I remembered a prophet to whom several armies from his people were given. Out of pride over his nation, he said: 'Who is there who can match them? Or who is there who can face them?' Or he said something similar. (In one narration, only these words are mentioned: 'Who is there who can face them?') Allah, the Exalted, revealed to him: 'Choose one of three things for your people: We will impose their enemy over your nation, or famine, or death.' He consulted his people. They said: 'You are Allah's prophet; the matter is up to you, so you choose.' He began to pray; whenever they were distressed, they would resort to prayer. He prayed as much as Allah willed, then said: 'O my Lord, do not impose their enemy over them, nor famine; let it be death.' So Allah imposed death upon them; in one day, seventy thousand of them died. That was my murmuring, as you saw. I said: 'O Allah! I seek protection by Your help, I attack by Your help, and I fight by Your help.'"