عَنْ علِيِّ بنِ رَبيعَةَ قالَ: شَهِدْتُ عَلِيَّ بنَ أبي طالبٍ رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْهُ  أُتِيَ بِدابَّتِهِ لِيَرْكَبَهَا، فلمّا وضَعَ رِجْلَهُ في الرِّكابِ قالَ: بِسْمِ اللّهِ، فلَمَّا اسْتَوَى على ظَهْرِهَا قالَ: الحْمدُ للّهِ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هذا، وما كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وإنَّا إلى ربِّنَا لمُنْقلِبُونَ، ثُمَّ قالَ: الحَمْدُ للّهِ، ثَلاثَ مرَّاتٍ، ثُمَّ قالَ: اللّهُ أَكْبرُ، ثَلاثَ مرَّاتٍ، ثُمَّ قالَ: سُبْحانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لي فإِنَّهُ لا يغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ، فَقِيلَ: يا أمِيرَ المُؤْمِنينَ، مِنْ أَيِّ شَيءٍ ضَحِكْتَ؟ قالَ: رأَيتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّمَ فَعلَ كَمَا فَعلْتُ، ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ، فَقُلْتُ: يا رسولَ اللّهِ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ؟ قالَ: «إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سُبْحانَهُ يَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدهِ إذَا قالَ: اغْفِرْ لي ذُنُوبي؛ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لا يغْفِرُ الذَّنُوبَ غَيْرِي». رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُودَ، والتِّرْمِذِيُّ وقالَ: حديثٌ حسنٌ، وقيل: حسن صحيح.

Ali ibn Rabi'ah reported: I witnessed Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) when his mount was brought to him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup he said: "In the name of Allah." When he settled upon its back he said: "Praise be to Allah who has subjected this to us, for we could not have done it ourselves, and indeed to our Lord we shall surely return." Then he said: "Praise be to Allah" three times, then he said: "Allah is the Greatest" three times, then he said: "Glory be to You; I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You." Then he laughed. It was said: "O Commander of the Believers, what made you laugh?" He said: "I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) do as I did, then he laughed, so I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what made you laugh?' He said: 'Your Lord, Glorified is He, marvels at His servant when he says: Forgive me my sins; he knows that none forgives sins besides Me.'" Reported by Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, who said: a hasan (good) hadith; and it was also said: hasan sahih.