Riyad as-Salihin, 832

Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

Towards the end of his life, Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would supplicate before leaving an assembly thus: "Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaika (O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; all praise is for You. I testify that there is no true god except You, I ask Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance).'' A man once said to him: "O Messenger of Allah! You have spoken such words as you have never uttered before.'' He said, "It is an expiation of that which goes on in the assembly.'' [Abu Dawud and Al-Hakim].

وعن أبى برزة رضى الله عنه قال‏:‏ كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول بآخرة إذا أراد أن يقوم من المجلس‏:‏ ‏"‏سبحانك الله وبحمدك، أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت، أستغفرك وأتوب إليك‏"‏ فقال رجل‏:‏ يا رسول الله، إنك لتقول قولاً ما كنت تقوله فيما مضى‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏"‏ذلك كفارة لما يكون في المجلس‏. ‏‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏‏(‏‏(‏ورواه الحاكم أبو عبيد الله في ‏ ‏المستدرك‏ ‏ من رواية عائشة رضى الله عنها وقال‏:‏ صحيح بإسناد‏)‏‏)‏‏‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 4, Hadith 20

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadiths: 1) If a person sits in a gathering and engages in a lot of idle talk, he can expiate for that through the reported supplication. A believer should be keen to memorize this supplication, say it in gatherings, and teach it to other attendees. 2) The supplication involves exaltation of Allah Almighty above any imperfection, praise Him for everything, affirmation of His divinity and oneness, and repenting to Him. Benefit: This supplication should also be said at the end of pious gatherings, acting like a seal, as indicated in an authentic Hadith narrated by Al-Nasā’i and reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “When the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) sat in a gathering or offered a prayer, he would utter certain words. I asked him about these words and he replied: ‘If he (a person) has spoken some good words, these will be a seal for them to preserve them until the Day of Resurrection, and if he has spoken otherwise, these will be an expiation for him: Subhānak Allāhumma wa bihamdik, la ilāha illa ant, astaghfiruka wa atūbu ilayk (O Allah, glory and praise be to You. I testify that there is no god but You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance).’”