Explanation

The meaning in a few plain lines

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.