Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I was descending a mountain pass with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when he said: "O Uqbah! Recite." I asked: O Messenger of Allah! What should I recite? Then we separated. I prayed: O Allah! Return to me, on behalf of Your Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that which I missed. Then we met again and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "O Uqbah! Recite." I asked: O Messenger of Allah! What should I recite? Then we parted again. I prayed: O Allah! Return to me, through Your Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), that which I missed. Then we met again and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "Recite! O Uqbah!" I asked: O Messenger of Allah! What should I recite? The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Recite Surah Ikhlas, Surah Falaq, and Surah Nas. No one seeking refuge and no one asking for protection has ever sought refuge with words like these."