Riyad as-Salihin, 1874

Ibn Mas'ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who says: 'Astaghfir ullah-alladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayyumu, wa atubu ilaihi (I seek the forgiveness of Allah, there is no true god except Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self- Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance),' his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allah)." [Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi and Al-Hakim (on conditions of Al-Bukhari and Muslim for accepting Hadith)].

وعن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه قال‏:‏ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏:‏ ‏

‏من قال‏:‏ أستغفر الله الذي لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم وأتوب إليه ، غفرت ذنوبه ، وإن كان قد فر من الزحف‏

‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي والحاكم، وقال‏:‏ حديث صحيح على شرط البخاري ومسلم‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 19, Hadith 6

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadith: 1) It shows the merit of constantly asking Allah Almighty for forgiveness. It expiates major sins. 2) If a person supplicates Allah Almighty sincerely from his heart, its merit and reward will eliminate even great sins. Indeed, a perfect reward depends upon a perfect supplication.