644 — Abū Bakr Qāsim ibn Zakariyyā al-Mutarriz narrated to us, saying: Abū Bakr ibn Zanjawayh and Ahmad ibn Sufyān informed us; they said: Muhammad ibn Yūsuf al-Firyābī narrated to us, from ⦗1062⦘ Sufyān al-Thawrī, from Abū Ishāq, from Ali ibn Rabīa, who said: I was riding behind Ali ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah honor his countenance—and, upon mounting, he said: “Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. All praise is due to Allah, and all praise is due to Allah. ‘Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us, for we could never have subdued it, and surely to our Lord we shall return’ [al-Zukhruf: 14]. There is no deity except You. Glory be to You! I have indeed wronged myself, so forgive me my sin, for none forgives sins except You.”

He then laughed. I asked, “What makes you laugh?” He replied: “I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and he did exactly as I have done. I asked, ‘What makes you laugh, O Messenger of Allah?’ He replied: ‘Our Lord—Mighty and Majestic is He—marvels at the servant when he says: “There is no deity except You. Glory be to You! I have indeed wronged myself, so forgive me my sins, for none forgives sins except You.”’”