in a single sitting one hundred times: “Rabbi ighfir li wa tub ʿalayya, innaka anta al-Tawwab al-Rahim” (Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance; You are indeed the Ever-Relenting, the All-Merciful). Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, who declared it authentic.

1873 – Ibn ʿAbbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever persists in seeking forgiveness, Allah will grant him a way out of every tight situation, relief from every worry, and will provide for him from where he never expected.” Related by Abu Dawud.

1874 – Ibn Masʿud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever says, ‘Astaghfiru llah alladhi la ilaha illa Hu, al-Hayy al-Qayyum, wa atubu ilayh (I seek forgiveness from Allah—there is no god but Him—the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him),’ his sins will be forgiven even if he had fled the battlefield.” Narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and al-Hakim, who said: “It is authentic according to the criteria of al-Bukhari and Muslim.”

[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—first cited the Qur’anic verses in Riyad al-Salihin that urge seeking forgiveness and praise those who do so. He then followed them with several hadiths on the subject, among them the Prophet’s statement—may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he whose past and future sins were forgiven—related by al-Agharr al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him): “A haze comes over my heart,” meaning—