عنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ رضي اللّه عنْهُ عن النَّبِيِّ صَلّى اللّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسَلَّم قالَ: «سيِّدُ الاسْتِغْفار أَنْ يقُول الْعبْدُ: اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لا إِلٰه إِلّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَني وأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وأَنَا على عهْدِكَ ووعْدِكَ ما اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ ما صنَعْتُ، أَبوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمتِكَ علَيَّ، وأَبُوءُ بذَنْبي فَاغْفِرْ لي، فَإِنَّهُ لا يغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلّا أَنْتَ، منْ قَالَهَا مِنَ النَّهَارِ مُوقِنًا بِهَا، فَمـاتَ مِنْ يوْمِهِ قَبْل أَنْ يُمْسِيَ، فَهُو مِنْ أَهْلِ الجنَّةِ، ومَنْ قَالَهَا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وهُو مُوقِنٌ بها فَمَاتَ قَبل أَنْ يُصْبِح، فهُو مِنْ أَهْلِ الجنَّةِ» رواه البخاري.
Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most excellent [manner of] seeking forgiveness is for the servant to say: 'O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no deity but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I abide by Your covenant and Your promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge to You Your favor upon me, and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.' Whoever says it during the day with firm conviction in it and dies that same day before evening, he is among the people of Paradise; and whoever says it during the night with firm conviction in it and dies before morning, he is among the people of Paradise." Reported by al-Bukhari.
الشرح · explanation
من شر ما صنعت: أي من شر ما صنعته من الإثم والعذاب والبلاء المترتب على ذلك. أَبُوءُ: أي أَقِرُّ وَأَعترِفُ. موقنًا: مخلصًا من قلبه.
"From the evil of what I have done": that is, from the evil of the sin I have committed and the punishment and affliction that result from it. "I acknowledge": that is, I affirm and confess. "With firm conviction": sincerely from his heart.
الدروس · lessons
يشترط لقبول الاستغفار صحة النية والتوجه إلى اللّه تعالى والأدب معه. يسمى سيد الاستغفار لما فيه من الإقرار للّه وحده بالألوهية والاعتراف بأنّه الخالق، والإقرار بالعهد الذي أخذه عليه والرجاء بما وعد به، والاستعاذة من شرّ ما جنى العبد على نفسه، وإضافة النعماء إلى موجدها، وإضافة الذنب إلى نفسه، ورغبة في المغفرة، واعترافه بأنّه لا يقدر على ذلك إلّا هو.
The acceptance of seeking forgiveness requires soundness of intention, turning to Allah the Exalted, and observing proper manners with Him. It is called the most excellent [manner of] seeking forgiveness because of what it contains: affirming Allah alone in divinity, acknowledging that He is the Creator, affirming the covenant He took upon the servant, hoping for what He has promised, seeking refuge from the evil the servant has brought upon himself, ascribing blessings to their Bestower, ascribing sin to oneself, longing for forgiveness, and confessing that none is able to grant it but He.