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Every petitioner should begin his supplication by confessing his weakness, shortcomings, and wrongdoing; next, praise Allah Most High as the One who possesses all bounty and power; then present his need; and finally conclude the prayer with one of the Most Beautiful Names or Lofty Attributes that suits the request, so that his approach to Allah is appropriate to the station he seeks.
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The insight of al-Ṣiddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) is clear: knowing that the ritual prayer is a time when petitions are answered, he asked the Prophet ﷺ to choose for him an invocation suited to that noble moment.
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Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd said, “It seems preferable that the place for this supplication be in prostration or after the tashahhud, for those are the two points at which we have been commanded to supplicate.” He ﷺ said, “As for prostration, strive therein with supplication,” and concerning the tashahhud he said, “Then let him choose from requests (that is, supplications) whatever he wishes.” Al-Fākihānī held that combining both positions is best.
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The phrase “and none forgives sins but You,” Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd explained, “indicates a plea for a forgiveness graciously bestowed by Allah Most High that is not warranted by any meritorious act or other cause.” End quote.
Hadith Three
ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: After the verse, “When the help of Allah comes and the conquest” was revealed to him, the Prophet ﷺ never performed a single prayer without saying in it, “Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and with Your praise; O Allah, forgive me.” In another wording: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would often say in his bowing and prostration, “Glory be to You, O Allah, our Lord, and with Your praise; O Allah, forgive me.”
Overall meaning
Surah al-Naṣr was revealed shortly before the Prophet’s ﷺ death, and its revelation signaled that his demise was near. Therefore ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned that when it descended upon the Prophet ﷺ, he began to interpret it through action, for Allah ﷻ stated in the surah that once the conquest of Mecca had been achieved and the land had become