their vigil, they seek forgiveness, as Allah says, “and those who seek forgiveness before dawn” [3:17]. You then say: “Allāhumma anta al-Salām wa minka al-Salām” (O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace). “Anta al-Salām” means: You are the One who is wholly free from every defect and flaw; “wa minka al-Salām” means: from You comes safety and well-being—were it not for Allah, we would enjoy neither safety nor the ability to act, to stand in prayer, or to fight. The wording continues: “Tabārakta yā dhā al-jalāli wa’l-ikrām.” This version contains no “wa taʿālayta,” though other reports do include “yā dhā al-jalāli wa’l-ikrām.” In other words, Your bounties, blessings, and favours upon Your servants are tremendous. Hence a person should, after every obligatory prayer, seek forgiveness three times and then say: “Allāhumma anta al-Salām wa minka al-Salām, tabārakta yā dhā al-jalāli wa’l-ikrām.”

1878 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Allah, the Exalted, said: ‘O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and place your hope in Me, I will forgive you for whatever you have done, and I do not mind. O son of Adam, even were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky, then you sought My forgiveness, I would forgive you, and I do not mind. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins filling the earth, yet meet Me without associating anything with Me, I would come to you with forgiveness filling it.’” Related by al-Tirmidhī, who said: this ḥadīth is sound (ḥasan).

“ʿInānu al-samāʾ” (with the ʿayn pronounced with fatḥa) has been explained as “the clouds,” and it has also been said: “whatever part of the sky becomes visible to you.” “Qirābu al-arḍ” (with the qāf ḍamma, though a kasra is also reported) means “the measure or capacity of the earth,” i.e., enough to fill it.