Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would remain silent for a short while between the opening takbeer (takbir tahrimah) and the recitation (qira’ah). Abu Zur’ah said: I think Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said this with «اسكاتة» and «هنية» . I (Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him) asked: O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed for you, what do you recite during your silence between the takbeer and the recitation? He replied:“I recite: «اللهم باعد ........ والماء البارد» , that is: ‘O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the East from the West. O Allah, purify me of my sins as a white garment is purified of dirt. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow and cold water.’”