[Commentary]
These invocations belong to particular moments in the prayer. Among them is what the author—may Allah have mercy on him—transmitted from ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her): that the Prophet ﷺ would often say while bowing and prostrating, “Subḥānaka Allāhumma rabbanā wa biḥamdik, Allāhumma ighfir lī” (Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord; to You belong all praise. O Allah, forgive me). He did so after Allah revealed, “When the help of Allah comes and the victory, and you see people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, then extol the praise of your Lord and seek His forgiveness; for He is ever ready to turn in mercy” (Surah al-Naṣr 110:1-3).

This surah in fact announced the Prophet’s appointed term ﷺ, for Allah was conveying that once divine help and the Conquest had arrived, his time on earth was drawing to a close—as Ibn ʿAbbās (may Allah be pleased with them both) understood. Ibn ʿAbbās, though young, used to be summoned by ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him) to the councils of senior men. Some people wondered why ʿUmar included Ibn ʿAbbās yet left out his own sons. To show them the latter’s merit, ʿUmar once asked the gathering, “What do you make of the verse, ‘When the help of Allah comes and the victory…’?” They replied, “It means that when victory arrives, glorify your Lord with praise and seek His forgiveness.” ʿUmar then asked, “And what do you say, Ibn ʿAbbās?” He answered, “It signifies the end of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Allah granted him a sign—help and victory—so when they appear, his time is near.” ʿUmar said, “I understand from it only what you have understood.”

In sum, the verse instructs the Prophet ﷺ to glorify his Lord with praise and to seek His forgiveness.