Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would remain silent for a short while between the opening takbeer and the recitation. So I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you, what do you recite during this silence between the takbeer and the recitation?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, "I say: O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah, purify me of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. O Allah, wash away my sins with water, snow, and hail."