Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray, he would quietly say some words; neither could I understand them nor did he (peace and blessings be upon him) tell us. (One day) he (peace and blessings be upon him) asked: Did you notice that I say some words? We said: Yes. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I remembered a prophet to whom many armies from his people were given; he, boasting to his people, said: Who is there who can match them? Or who is there who can face them? Or he said something similar. Allah Almighty revealed to him: Choose one of these three matters for your people: We will impose their enemy upon your nation, or hunger, or death. He consulted his people. They said: You are Allah’s prophet, the matter is entrusted to you, so you choose yourself. He began to pray; whenever they were distressed, they would resort to prayer. He prayed as much as Allah Almighty willed, then said: O my Lord, do not impose their enemy upon them, nor hunger; let it be death. Allah Almighty imposed death upon them; in one day, seventy thousand of them died. This was my humming, as you saw; I said: Allahumma bika uqatilu, wa bika usawilu, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. (O Allah! I fight by Your help, and I attack by Your help; there is no power and no strength except with Allah.)