‘Ali was brought a beast to ride, and when he put his foot in the stirrup he said, “In the name of God.” Then when he sat on its back he said, “Praise be to God.” He then said, “Glory be to Him who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength, and to our Lord do we return.” He then said, “Praise be to God (thrice); God is most great (thrice); Glory be to Thee. I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for only Thou forgivest sins.” He then laughed, and when he was asked what he was laughing at, he replied that he had seen God’s messenger do as he had done and laugh after that. He had asked him what he was laughing at, and he told him that his Lord was pleased with His servant when he asked Him to forgive him his sins, for God says, “He knows that I alone forgive sins.”
Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying that if anyone sits in an assembly where there is much clamour* and says before getting up to leave, “Glory be to Thee, O God, and I begin with praise of Thee; I testify that there is no god but Thou; I ask Thy pardon and turn to Thee in repentance,” he will be forgiven for what took place in that assembly where he was.
*Or, ‘wicked talk,’ or, 'meaningless talk'
Tirmidhi and Baihaqi in ad-Da'awat al-kabir, transmitted it.
Ibn ‘Umar told that when the Prophet said farewell to a man he took him by the hand and did not let it go till the man let go the Prophet’s hand, and he would say, “I entrust to God your religion, what you are responsible for, and your last deeds.” A version has “Your final deeds.”*
*The text of the tradition has akhira 'amalika and the version khawatima 'amalika,
Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it, but in the version of the last two “your last deeds” is not mentioned.
Mu'adh b. Jabal said the Prophet heard a man making supplication saying, “O God, I ask Thee for complete favour,” and asked him what complete favour meant. On his replying that it was a supplication by which he hoped to receive good, he said, “Part of complete favour is to enter paradise and be safe from hell.” He heard a man saying, “O Possessor of majesty and splendour,” and said, “Your prayer is answered, so make request.” The Prophet also heard a man who was saying, “O God, I ask Thee for endurance,” and said, “You have asked God for trial; now ask Him for wellbeing.”
