It is narrated from Sayyiduna al-Bara' (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever seeks forgiveness from Allah Almighty three times after every prayer and says these words: 'Astaghfirullah alladhi la ilaha illa huwa al-Hayy al-Qayyum wa atubu ilayh' (I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides whom there is no deity worthy of worship, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence, and I turn to Him in repentance), his sins are forgiven, even if he had fled from facing the enemy on the battlefield."
Abu Ya'la al-Mawsili recorded this hadith in his Musnad; its chain is criticised because of al-Hasan bin Dhakwan and Sa'id bin Rashid; however, the virtue of these words of seeking forgiveness is also established in other reliable hadith.
Hadith Referenceالمطالب العالية بزوائد المسانيد الثمانية / صفة الصلاة / 538
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده ضعيف
Hadith Takhrij«حکم الحدیث المطالب العالیہ محققاً تنسیق د. سعد بن ناصر بن عبد العزيز الشَّثري- مکتبہ شاملہ :إسناده ضعيف. » «أخرجه المعجم الأوسط للطبراني برقم: 7734، وأخرجه المعجم الصغير للطبراني برقم: 807، وأخرجه مجمع الزوائد ومنبع الفوائد برقم: 16933، 16934، وأخرجه إتحاف الخيرة المهرة بزوائد المسانيد العشرة برقم: 1400»