Allāhumma bā‘id bayni wa bayna khatāyāy kama bā‘dta bayna al-mashriqi wa al-maghrib

Explanation

On making Takbīr to commence the prayer, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would take a brief pause before reciting Surat al-Fātihah. During this pause, he would start his prayer by reciting some supplications. Among the supplications reported in this regard is his saying: "Allāhumma bā‘id bayni wa bayna khatāyāy kama bā‘dta bayna al-mashriqi wa al-maghrib*. Allāhumma naqqini min khatāyāy kama yunaqqa ath-thawbu al-abyadu min ad-danas. Allāhumma ighsilni min khatāyāy bith-thalji wa al-mā’i wa al-barad (O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west. O Allah, purify me from my sins as a white garment is purified from dirt. O Allah, wash out my sins with water, snow, and hail)." He supplicates Allah Almighty to keep him far from sins, by helping him not to commit them, in such a way that makes it impossible for them to meet, just as the East and the West can never meet; and to purify him and remove such sins if he commits them, as filth is removed from the white garment; and to wash him from his sins and cool off its flames and heat with such cold purifiers: water, snow, and hail.

Benefits

• The opening supplication is to be recited inaudibly, even if the prayer is audible.
• Keenness of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) to learn about the circumstances of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in his movements and instants of stillness.
• Other wordings of the opening supplication have been reported. It is preferable that one pursues the opening supplications, which are authentically reported from the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), and recites them alternately.