"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed Salat, making it long. They said: 'O Messenger of Allah! You have performed Salat (in a manner) which you do not ordinarily perform it.' He said: 'Yes, It was a prayer of hope and fear. In it I asked Allah for three things. He granted me two, and withheld one from me. I asked him that my Ummah not be destroyed by drought. He granted that. I asked him that they not be overcome by enemies from other then them. He granted that. And I asked him that some of them not suffer from the harm of others, and He withheld that."'  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلاَةً فَأَطَالَهَا قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّيْتَ صَلاَةً لَمْ تَكُنْ تُصَلِّيهَا قَالَ أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلاَةُ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا ثَلاَثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِسَنَةٍ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُذِيقَ بَعْضَهُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed one day, and made the prayer lengthy. When he finished we said (or they said): ‘O Messenger of Allah, you made the prayer lengthy today.’ He said: ‘I offered a prayer of hope and fear. I asked Allah for three things for my nation, and He granted me two and refused one. I asked Him not to let my nation be destroyed by enemies from without, and He granted me that. And I asked Him not to let them be destroyed by drowning, and He granted me that. And I asked Him not to let them be destroyed by fighting among themselves, but He refused that.’”  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا صَلاَةً فَأَطَالَ فِيهَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قُلْنَا أَوْ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَطَلْتَ الْيَوْمَ الصَّلاَةَ قَالَ إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ صَلاَةَ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ سَأَلْتُ اللَّهَ ﷻ لأُمَّتِي ثَلاَثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَرَدَّ عَلَىَّ وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يُهْلِكَهُمْ غَرَقًا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لاَ يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَرَدَّهَا عَلَىَّ  

I asked my Lord three things and He has granted me two but has withheld one. I begged my Lord that my Ummah should not be destroyed because of famine and He granted me this. And I begged my Lord that my Ummah should not be destroyed by drowning (by deluge) and He granted me this. And I begged my Lord that there should be no bloodshed among the people of my Ummah, but He did not grant it. (Using translation from Muslim 2890a)  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَقْبَلَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ مِنَ الْعَالِيَةِ حَتَّى إِذَا مَرَّ بِمَسْجِدِ بَنِي مُعَاوِيَةَ دَخَلَ فَرَكَعَ فِيهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَصَلَّيْنَا مَعَهُ وَدَعَا رَبَّهُ طَوِيلًا ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَيْنَا فَقَالَ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلاثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِسَنَةٍ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالْغَرَقِ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا  

[Machine] "I came to the Messenger of Allah, seeking him. It was said to me that he had gone out. So, I decided not to appoint anyone until it was said to me that he had just passed. I kept going until I found him standing and praying. I approached him and stood behind him. The prayer became longer, and when he finished the prayer, I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, you have prayed a long prayer.' The Messenger of Allah replied, 'Indeed, I have prayed a prayer out of desire and fear. I asked Allah for three things, and He granted me two and prevented me from one. I asked Him that my Ummah not be destroyed by drowning, and He granted it. I asked Him that He not make an enemy from outside of them overpower them, and He granted it. And I asked Him that He not cause them to fight amongst themselves, and He returned that to me.'"

Note: The ṣalāh mentioned in the passage refers to the Islamic prayer.  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَطْلُبُهُ فَقِيلَ لِي خَرَجَ قَبْلُ قَالَ فَجَعَلْتُ لَا أَمُرُّ بِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مَرَّ قَبْلُ حَتَّى مَرَرْتُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَائِمًا يُصَلِّي قَالَ فَجِئْتُ حَتَّى قُمْتُ خَلْفَهُ قَالَ فَأَطَالَ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلَاةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِلَقَدْ صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاةً طَوِيلَةً فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ صَلَاةَ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ سَأَلْتُ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي غَرَقًا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا لَيْسَ مِنْهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَرَدَّهَا عَلَيَّ  

[Machine] The Prophet صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ prayed a prayer in which he excelled in the bowing, prostration, and standing. I mentioned this to him and he said, "This is a prayer of desire and awe. I asked my Lord in it three times, and He gave me two of them and did not give me one. I asked Him that He not let my nation be destroyed by famine, so He gave me that. And I asked Him that He not let an enemy from outside them dominate over them, so He gave me that. And I asked Him that He not cause their destruction from fighting amongst themselves, so He prevented me from that."  

صَلَّى النَّبِيُّ ﷺ صَلَاةً فَأَحْسَنَ فِيهَا الرُّكُوعَوَالسُّجُودَ وَالْقِيَامَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ صَلَاةُ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي فِيهَا ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَلَمْ يُعْطِنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَقْتُلَ أُمَّتِي بِسَنَةِ جُوعٍ فَيَهْلَكُوا فَأَعْطَانِي وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِي وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِي  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed a prayer in which he excelled in standing, humility, bowing, and prostration. He said, "This is a prayer of desire and fear. I asked Allah three things in it, and He granted me two and withheld one. I asked Him not to send an enemy upon my Ummah (nation) from among themselves who would indiscriminately attack them, and He granted it. I asked Him not to send a year that would kill them due to famine, and He granted it. And I asked Him not to make their destruction come due to fighting among themselves, and He granted it to me."  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَلَاةً فَأَحْسَنَ فِيهَا الْقِيَامَ وَالْخُشُوعَ وَالرُّكُوعَ وَالسُّجُودَ قَالَ إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ سَأَلْتُ اللهَ فِيهَا ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَزَوَى عَنِّي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَبْعَثَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَيَجْتَاحَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهِ وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَنَةً تَقْتُلُهُمْ جُوعًا فَأَعْطَانِيهِ وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَرَدَّهَا عَلَيَّ  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "I asked my Lord three things, and He granted me two of them and withheld one. I asked Him to not destroy my ummah (community) through famine, and He granted it to me. I asked Him to not let them be ruled by enemies other than themselves, and He granted it to me. And I asked Him to not let them be divided among themselves and to not make them taste the pain inflicted by one another, and He withheld it from me."  

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي بِالسِّنِينَ فَأَعْطَانِي وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِي وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَهُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَهُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ فَمَنَعَنِي  

[Machine] I accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a prayer, which he performed until it was close to dawn. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his prayer, Khalid bin Walid came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, I swear by my father and mother, you have prayed tonight a prayer that I have never witnessed you pray before." The Prophet ﷺ replied, "Indeed, it was a prayer of desire and fear. I asked my Lord for three things, and He granted me two and prevented me from one. I asked Him not to destroy us as He destroyed the nations before us, so He granted my request. I asked Him not to subject us to an enemy other than ourselves, so He granted my request. And I asked Him not to make us divided, so He prevented me from it."  

رَمَقْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي صَلَاةٍ صَلَّاهَا حَتَّى كَانَ مَعَ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ جَاءَهُ خَبَّابٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتَ اللَّيْلَةَ صَلَاةً مَا رَأَيْتُكَ صَلَّيْتَ نَحْوَهَا قَالَ «أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي فِيهَا ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَهَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»  

[Machine] He watched the Prophet ﷺ for one night and prayed until dawn. Then he asked, "O Messenger of Allah, I saw you praying tonight. I have never seen you pray a similar prayer. The Prophet replied, "Indeed, it is a voluntary prayer of desire and fear. I asked my Lord for three things, and He granted me two and withheld one. I asked Him not to destroy us as He destroyed the previous nations, and He granted me that. I asked Him not to let our enemies dominate us and destroy us, and He granted me that. And I asked Him not to let my Ummah become divided into sects, and He withheld that from me."  

أَنَّهُ رَاقَبَ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَيْلَةً فَصَلَّى حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَ مَعَ الْفَجْرِ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَأَيْتُكَ اللَّيْلَةَ صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاةً مَا رَأَيْتُكَ صَلَّيْتَ مِثْلَهَا؟ قَالَ «أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ﷻ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةٍ سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ فَأَعْطَانِي ذَلِكَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا فَيُهْلِكُونا فَأَعْطَانِي ذَلِكَ وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَ أُمَّتِي شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِي»  

[Machine] I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in a prayer that he performed until it was close to dawn. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his prayer, Duskri held the Kabir's (prayer leader) hand and said, O Messenger of Allah! I swear by my father and my mother, you performed a prayer tonight that I have never seen you perform before. He said: "Yes, it was a voluntary prayer. I asked my Lord three things, and He granted me two and withheld one. I asked Him not to destroy us as He destroyed the nations before us, so He granted me that. I asked Him not to make our enemies prevail over us, so He granted me that. And I asked Him not to separate us into sects, so He withheld that from me."  

رَمَقْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي صَلَاةٍ صَلَّاهَا حَتَّى كَانَ مَعَ الْفَجْرِ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ مِنْ صَلَاتِهِ قَامَ خَبَّابٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَأُمِّي لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتَ اللَّيْلَةَ صَلَاةً مَا رَأَيْتُكَ صَلَّيْتَ نَحْوَهَا؟ قَالَ «أَجَلْ إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغَبٍ وَرَهَبٍ سَأَلْتُ فِيهَا رَبِّي ﷻ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»  

[Machine] "I observed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , so I said, 'Let me see how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prays.' So he prayed. When he finished, I came forward and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, indeed you prayed tonight a prayer that I have never seen you pray before.' He said, 'Verily, it is a prayer of fear and desire. I asked my Lord for three things regarding it, so He gave me two and prevented me from one. I asked Him not to destroy us as He destroyed nations before us, so He granted it. I asked Him not to let an enemy have dominance over us, so He granted it. And I asked Him not to make us divided into factions, so He prevented me from it.'"  

رَمَقْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَقُلْتُ لَأَنْظُرَنَّ كَيْفَ صَلَاةُ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَصَلَّى فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ جِئْتُ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتَ اللَّيْلَةَ صَلَاةً مَا رَأَيْتُكَ صَلَّيْتَ مِثْلَهَا فَقَالَ «إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَهَبٍ وَرَغَبٍ سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي فِيهَا ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِي اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَنَا بِمَا أَهْلَكَ بِهِ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَنَا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْنَا عَدُوًّا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَنَا شِيَعًا فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»  

[Machine] We came to the Messenger of Allah while he was praying. When he finished his prayer, I said, "O Messenger of Allah, I saw you doing something that I have not seen you do in a prayer." He said, "It was a voluntary prayer of desire and caution. I asked Allah three times in it, so He gave me two and prevented me from one. I asked Him not to subject my Ummah to an enemy other than themselves, who would overpower them, so He gave it to me. And I asked Him not to send upon them a calamity that would destroy them, so He gave it to me. And I asked Him not to make their misfortune between themselves, so He turned it away from me."  

أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلَاتَهُ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ رَأَيْتُكَ تَصْنَعُ مَا لَمْ أَرَكَ تَصْنَعُ فِي صَلَاةٍ فَقَالَ «إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةَ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ سَأَلْتُ اللهَ فِيهَا ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِيَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلَّطَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَيَجْتَاحَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَنَةً فَتُدَمِّرَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَزَوَاهَا عَنِّي»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed a prayer and lengthened its standing, bowing, and prostration. When he finished the prayer, we said, "O Messenger of Allah, you have prayed a prayer that you prolonged its standing, bowing, and prostration?" He said, "Indeed, it was a prayer that I offered out of desire and fear. And I asked my Lord three things, so He gave me two and withheld one. I asked Him not to subject my Ummah to an enemy other than themselves who would overpower them, so He gave it to me. And I asked Him not to destroy them with a calamity in a single year, so He gave it to me. And I asked Him not to make them fight amongst themselves, so He withheld it from me."  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَلَاةً فَأَطَالَ قِيَامَهَا وَرُكُوعَهَا وَسُجُودَهَا فَلَمَّا قَضَى الصَّلَاةَ قُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاةً أَطَلْتَ قِيَامَهَا وَرُكُوعَهَا وَسُجُودَهَا؟ قَالَ «إِنَّهَا صَلَاةُ رَغِبٍ وَرَهَبٍ وَإِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِيَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَزَوَى عَنِّي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلَّطَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَيَجْتَاحَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَهُمْ بِسَنَةٍ فَأَعْطَانِي وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»  

[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed a prayer one day in which he prolonged his standing, bowing, and prostration. When he finished, I said, "O Messenger of Allah, you have indeed prayed a prayer in which you prolonged your standing, bowing, and prostration." He replied, "Indeed, it was a prayer of desire and fear. I asked my Lord three things in it, and He granted me two and turned away one. I asked Him not to subject my Ummah to an enemy from among themselves who would overpower them, and He granted it to me. I asked Him not to inflict them with a year of famine that would cause their destruction due to hunger, and He granted it to me. I asked Him not to cause them to fight one another, so He prevented me from that twice."  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ صَلَاةً يَوْمًا أَطَالَ قِيَامَهَا وَرُكُوعَهَا وَسُجُودَهَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاةً أَطَلْتَ قِيَامَهَا وَرُكُوعَهَا وَسُجُودَهَا فَقَالَ «إِنَّهَا كَانَتْ صَلَاةَ رَغِبٍ وَرَهَبٍ إِنِّي سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي فِيهَا ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِيَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَزَوَى عَنِّي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلَّطَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَيَجْتَاحَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَنَةً فَيُهْلِكَهُمْ جُوعًا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا وَزَوَى عَنِّي»  

[Machine] I came to the Prophet ﷺ to seek him, but I was told that he had left. So I decided not to ask anyone until I found him standing in prayer. When he finished his prayer, I said, "You have indeed prayed a long prayer." He replied, "I prayed out of desire and fear. I asked Allah three things and He gave me two of them and prevented me from one. I asked Him not to destroy my nation by drowning and He granted it to me. I asked Him not to expose them to an enemy who is not from among them, and He granted it to me. And I asked Him not to cause discord among them, but instead, He returned it to me."  

أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ أَطْلُبُهُ فَقِيلَ لِي خَرَجَ فَجَعَلْتُ لَا أَمُرُّ بِأَحَدٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مَرَّ قَبْلُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ قَائِمًا يُصَلِّي فَلَمَّا قَضَى صَلَاتَهُ قُلْتُ لَقَدْ صَلَّيْتَ صَلَاةً طَوِيلَةً قَالَ «إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً سَأَلْتُ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِيَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَ أُمَّتِي غَرَقًا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا لَيْسَ مِنْهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَرَدَّهَا عَلَيَّ»  

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed one day, and made the prayer lengthy. When he finished we said (or they said): ‘O Messenger of Allah, you made the prayer lengthy today.’ He said: ‘I offered a prayer of hope and fear. I asked Allah for three things for my nation, and He granted me two and refused one. I asked Him not to let my nation be destroyed by enemies from without, and He granted me that. And I asked Him not to let them be destroyed by drowning, and He granted me that. And I asked Him not to let them be destroyed by fighting among themselves, but He refused that.’” (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3951)  

صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا صَلَاةً فَأَطَالَ فِيهَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ لَقَدْ أَطَلْتَ الْيَوْمَ الصَّلَاةَ فَقَالَ «إِنِّي صَلَّيْتُ صَلَاةَ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ وَسَأَلْتُ اللهَ لِأُمَّتِي ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانِيَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَرَدَّ وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُ أَنْ لَا يُسَلَّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَهُمْ غَرَقًا فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَجْعَلَ بَأْسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ فَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ»  

that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "I asked my Lord ﷻ for four ˹things˺. So he granted me three ˹of them˺ and denied me one ˹of them˺:

(1) I asked Allah ﷻ to not gather my Ummah upon misguidance, and he granted it to me, and

(2) I asked Allah ﷻ to not have ˹the Ummah˺ be overcome by an enemy other than themselves, and he granted it to me, and

(3) I asked Allah ﷻ to not have ˹ the Ummah˺ be destroyed by plagues similar to nations before them, and he granted it to me, and

(4) I asked Allah ﷻ to not to have ˹the Ummah˺ be splintered into groups have that they ˹not˺ taste affliction from each other, and he denied it to me." (Using translation from Aḥmad 27224)   

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ «سَأَلْتُ رَبِّي أَرْبَعًا فَأَعْطَانِي ثَلَاثًا وَمَنَعَنِي وَاحِدَةً سَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُجْمِعَ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ضَلَالَةٍ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُهْلِكَهُمْ بِالسِّنِينَ كَمَا أَهْلَكَ الْأُمَمَ قَبْلَهُمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يُظْهِرَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوًّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ فَأَعْطَانِيهَا وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لَا يَلْبِسَهُمْ شِيَعًا وَلَا يُذِيقَ بَعْضَهُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ فَمَنَعَنِيهَا»  

"سَأَلْتُ رَبِّى أَرْبَعًا فَأَعطانى ثلاثًا وَمنعنى واحدةً: سَأَلْتُهُ أَن لَا يجمع أُمَّتِى عَلَى ضَلَالَة فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَن لا يُهْلِكُهُم بالسِّنينَ كَمَا أَهْلَكَ الأُمَمَ قَبْلَهُمْ، فَأعْطانِيها، وَسَأَلته أَنْ لاَ يُظْهِر عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوا مِن غيْرِهِمْ، فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلتهُ أَن لَا يُلبِسَهُمْ شيعًا، ولا يُذِيقَ بَعْضهم بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ، فمنعَنِيها".  

"سَأَلْتُ ربَى ثَلَاثًا فَأَعْطَانى ثِنْتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِى واحدة، سأَلت ربى أَن لَا يُهلِك أُمَّتى بالسنَةِ فَأَعْطَانِيها، وسَأَلْتُه أَن لا يُهلِك أُمَّتِى بالغَرقِ، فَأَعْطَانيها، وسَأَلتُه أَن لَا يجعل بَأْسَهم بَيْنَهم، فمنَعَنِيها".  

"إِنِّى صَلَّيْتُ صَلَاةَ رَغْبَة، وَرَهْبة، سألتُ اللَّه ﷻ لأُمَّتِى ثَلَاثًا فأَعْطَأنِى اثْنَتَيْنِ، وَرَدَّ عَلَىَّ وَاحدَةً، سأَلته: أَنْ لا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهم عَدُوًا مِن غيرهم فأعطانيها. وَسأَلتُه: أَنْ لا يَهْلِكَهُم غَرقًا فَأعْطَانِيهَا. وَسَألتهُ: أَن لا يَجْعَلَ بَأسَهُم بَيْنَهُم فْرَدَّهَا عَلىَّ".  

"إِنَّها كانتْ صلاةَ رغْبةٍ ورهْبةٍ سأَلتُ اللَّه فيهَا ثلاثًا، فأَعْطانِى اثْنَتَيْن ومنعنى واحدة، سأَلْتُه: أَلَّا يُسلِّط على أُمَّتى عدوًا منْ غيرهم فيجْتَاحَهُم فأَعْطانيهَا، وسأَلْتُه أَلَّا يُرْسِلَ عليْهم سَنَةً فيُدَمِّرَهُم فأَعْطانيها، وسأَلْتُه أَن لا يجعلَ بأسَهُم بيْنَهم فَزَواهَا عنِّى" .  

"إِنَّها صلاةُ رَغْبةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ سأَلتُ اللَّه فيها ثلاثَ خِصَالٍ فأَعطانِى اثنتَيْنِ وَمَنَعَنِى واحدةً، سأَلْتُه أَلَّا يُسْحِتَكُمْ بعذاب أَصابَ مَنْ كانَ قبْلكُمْ فأَعْطَانيهَا؛ وسأَلْتُه أَلا يُسلِّطَ على بيْضتِكُمْ عدوّا فيجتاحَهَا فأعْطَانيهَا، وسأَلْتُهُ أَلَّا يُلْبِسَكُم شيعًا ويذيقَ بعضَكُم بأسَ بعْضٍ فمَنَعَنيها" .  

"صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَوْمًا صَلاةً فَأَطَالَ فِيهَا فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ، قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ! لَقَدْ أَطَلْتَ الْيَوْمَ الصَّلاةَ، قَالَ: إِنَّى صَلَّيْتُ صَلاةَ رَغْبَةٍ وَرَهْبَةٍ، وَسَأَلْتُ اللهَ لأُمَّتِى ثَلاثًا، فَأَعْطَانِى اثْنَتَيْنِ وَرَدَّ عَلَىَّ وَاحِدَةً، سَأَلْتُهُ: أَنْ لا يُسَلِّطَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَدُوّا مِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ، فَأَعْطَانِيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ لا يُهْلِكَهُمْ غَرْقًا، فَأعَطانيهَا، وَسَأَلْتُهُ أَنْ (لا) يَجْعَلَ بَأسَهُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ، فَرُدَّتْ عَلَىَّ".