1414 – Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, “Teach me some words that I can say.” He replied, “Say: ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah; Allāhu akbar kabīran; al-ḥamdu lillāhi kathīran; subḥān Allāhi Rabb al-ʿālamīn; wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh al-ʿazīz al-ḥakīm’ (There is no god but Allah alone, without partner; Allah is supremely great; praise be to Allah in abundance; glory be to Allah, Lord of all creation; and there is no power nor might except with Allah, the Mighty, the Wise).” The man said, “All of that is for my Lord—what is there for me?” He replied, “Say: ‘Allāhumma’ghfir lī wa’rḥamnī wa’hdinī wa’rzuqnī’ (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, and provide for me).” Related by Muslim.

1415 – Thawbān (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) concluded his prayer, he would seek forgiveness three times and then say, “Allāhumma anta’s-salām wa minka’s-salām, tabārakta yā dhā’l-jalāl wa’l-ikrām” (O Allah, You are Peace and from You is peace; blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor). It was said to al-Awzāʿī—one of the transmitters of the hadith—“How is the seeking of forgiveness to be done?” He answered, “You say: ‘Astaghfirullāh, astaghfirullāh’ (I seek Allah’s forgiveness, I seek Allah’s forgiveness).” Related by Muslim.

[Commentary]
These hadiths were cited by the author (may Allah have mercy on him) in the chapter on the excellence of remembrance, and we have already encountered some of them. Among the traditions he quoted is the statement that whoever says, “Lā ilāha illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-ḥamd, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shayʾin qadīr” ten times is like one who frees four persons from the descendants of Ishmael—that is, as though he had emancipated four individuals of the noblest lineage, the children of Ishmael, for the most exalted lineage belongs to the Arabs, the children of Ishmael. As for