Abu al-Husayn reported: It was said to ‘Amir ibn Abdul Qays, may Allah have mercy on him, “Do you talk to yourself in prayer?” ‘Amir said, “Yes. I tell myself to stand in front of the Lord Almighty and to turn away from what is in front of Him.”
Source: al-Zuhd wal-Raqā’iq 1561
عَنْ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ الْمُجَاشِعِيِّ قَالَ قِيلَ لِعَامِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ قَيْسٍ رحمه الله أَتُحَدِّثُ نَفْسَكَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ نَعَمْ أُحَدِّثُ نَفْسِي بِالْوُقُوفِ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الرَّبِّ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى وَمُنصَرَفِي مِنْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ
1561 كتاب الزهد والرقائق باب فضل ذكر الله عز وجل