Hadithcore
Sunan Abi Dawud, 792
sahih· Al-Albani

Narrated Some Companions of the Prophet:

AbuSalih reported on the authority of some Companions of the Prophet (ﷺ): The Prophet (ﷺ) said to a person: what do you say in prayer? He replied: I first recite tashahhud (supplication recited in sitting position), and then I say: O Allah, I ask You for Paradise, and I seek refuge in You from Hell-Fire, but I do not understand your sound and the sound of Mu'adh (what you say or he says in prayer). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: We too go around it (paradise and Hell-fire).

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا حُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ زَائِدَةَ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ بَعْضِ، أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِرَجُلٍ ‏"‏ كَيْفَ تَقُولُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَتَشَهَّدُ وَأَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ أَمَا إِنِّي لاَ أُحْسِنُ دَنْدَنَتَكَ وَلاَ دَنْدَنَةَ مُعَاذٍ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ حَوْلَهَا نُدَنْدِنُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

References2 variants
In-Book Reference
Book 2, Hadith 402
English Reference
Book 3, Hadith 792
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would ask the Companions about their acts of worship and supplications, in order to clarify whether they were correct, or to correct and guide them to what would benefit them in this world and the Hereafter.In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a man, "What do you say in the prayer?", meaning: what remembrance and supplication do you say during your prayer? The man said, “I recite the Tashahhud,” referring to the testimony or greetings recited during prayer. “And I say: O Allah, I ask You for Paradise,” meaning: I ask You for entry into it. “And I seek refuge in You from the Fire,” meaning: to be kept far from it and not even come near it. Then the man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), “As for me, I am not good at your murmuring nor the murmuring of Mu`adh.” Murmuring refers to low, indistinct speech, a tone that is heard but whose words are not clear, and it is also interpreted as private or concealed speech. The man meant that he was not proficient in the invocations and supplications that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) or Mu`adh (may Allah be pleased with him) would say in prayer, nor was he able to formulate supplications with eloquence. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) replied, “It is around these that we murmur”. Namely, our invocations revolve around Paradise and Hellfire; all our supplications ultimately aim for the same purpose: to attain Paradise and be protected from the Hellfire.This Hadith teaches that there is no need for affectation or overelaboration in supplication; rather, sincerity and clarity of intention are what matter most..