Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that when he (peace and blessings be upon him) would begin the prayer, he would say «‏‏‏‏اللهُ أَكْبَرُ» ‏‏‏‏ and then recite this supplication, «‏‏‏‏وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا، وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، إِنَّ صَلَاتِي، وَنُسُكِي، وَمَحْيَايَ، وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي، وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي جَمِيعًا، إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاهْدِنِي لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّي سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَالْخَيْرُ كُلُّهُ فِي يَدَيْكَ، وَالشَّرُّ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ، أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ، تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ» ‏‏‏‏ "I have turned my face towards the One who created the heavens and the earth, being upright, and I am not among the polytheists. Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. He has no partner; I have been commanded of this, and I am the first of the Muslims. O Allah, You are the King, there is no true deity except You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant. I have wronged myself and I confess and admit my sins, so forgive all my sins, for surely none forgives sins except You. Grant me the ability to adopt good and excellent character; You alone grant the ability for good character, and turn me away from bad character; only You can turn me away from bad character. I am present (to carry out Your commands) and ready to obey; all good is in Your hands, and evil is not attributed to You. I stand by Your help and to You is the return. You are most blessed and Your essence is most exalted. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You (in repentance)." In the narration of Abu Salih, these words are included: "There is no deity except You."