‘Ali was brought a beast to ride, and when he put his foot in the stirrup he said, “In the name of God.” Then when he sat on its back he said, “Praise be to God.” He then said, “Glory be to Him who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength, and to our Lord do we return.” He then said, “Praise be to God (thrice); God is most great (thrice); Glory be to You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for only You forgivest sins.” He then laughed, and when he was asked what he was laughing at, he replied that he had seen God’s messenger do as he had done and laugh after that. He had asked him what he was laughing at, and he told him that his Lord was pleased with His servant when he asked Him to forgive him his sins, for God says, “He knows that I alone forgive sins.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ: أَنَّهُ أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وضَعَ رِجْلَه فِي الركابِ قَالَ: بسمِ اللَّهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: (سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبنَا لمنُقلِبون) ثُمَّ قَالَ: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلَاثًا وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلَاثًا سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقِيلَ: مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ: مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ:

إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي يَقُولُ: يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرِي

رَوَاهُ أَحْمد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد