say:

“O Allah, forgive my sins, my ignorance, my excesses in my affairs, and whatever You know better than I do. O Allah, forgive what I have done in jest and in earnest, unintentionally and deliberately—all of these are found in me. O Allah, forgive my past and future sins, what I have concealed and what I have made public, and whatever You know better than I do. You are the One who brings forward and the One who holds back, and You have power over all things.”

In the two Sahīhs, Abū Hurayrah relates that he said:

“O Messenger of Allah, what do you say during your silence between the opening declaration of Allah’s greatness and the recitation?”

He replied:

“I say: ‘O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. O Allah, wash away my sins with snow, hail, and cold water.’”

Sahīh Muslim and other works report that he would say something similar when he raised his head from bowing. In Sahīh Muslim, ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say in the opening supplication of prayer:

“O Allah, You are the King; there is no god but You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant. I have wronged myself and done evil, so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You. Guide me to the best character, for none guides to it but You. Turn bad character away from me, for none turns it away from me but You.”

Sahīh Muslim reports that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say while prostrating:

“O Allah, forgive all my sins, small and great, public and secret, first and last.”