Riyad as-Salihin, 1475

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

I requested the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to teach me a supplication which I could recite in my Salat (prayer). Thereupon he said, "Recite: 'Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh- dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min 'indika, warhamni, innaka Antal-Ghafur-ur-Rahim (O Allah! I have considerably wronged myself. There is none to forgive the sins but You. So grant me pardon and have mercy on me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate)."' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن أبي بكر الصديق رضي الله عنه أنه قال لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ علمني دعاء أدعو به في صلاتي، قال‏:‏ ‏"‏قل‏:‏ اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلمًا كثيرًا، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك، وارحمني، إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏ وفي رواية‏:‏ ‏"‏وفي بيتي‏"‏ وروي‏:‏ ‏"‏ظلمًا كثيرًا‏"‏ وروي ‏"‏كبيرًا‏"‏ بالثاء المثلثة وبالباء الموحدة، فينبغي أن يجمع بينهما، فقال‏:‏ كثيرًا كبيرًا‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 16, Hadith 11

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) A Muslim is required to admit his wrongdoing and sins and display humility before his Lord because this constitutes one of the greatest reasons for having his supplication answered. 2) Supplicating Allah Almighty by His Names and Attributes is one of the reasons of having the supplication answered, like when the supplicant says: “O Oft-Forgiving, forgive me!” or “O All-Provider, give me provision!” and so on. 3) The Hadith highlights the error and foolishness of those who call upon other creatures apart from Allah Almighty, and ask them for needs that Allah alone can fulfill, like asking for forgiveness, intercession, provision, and help from the dead. 4) Al-Siddiq, who is one of those who were given glad tidings of entering Paradise, says: “O Allah! I have wronged myself too much”, despite occupying such a sublime rank, so what would be the case of those who are negligent?!

Related hadiths5