The supplications a man is permitted to make in his prostration

Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: I spent a night with my maternal aunt, the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah Maymunah (may Allah be pleased with her). I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) making this supplication in prostration: "O Allah! Put light in my heart, put light in my ear, put light in my eyes, grant light before me and grant light behind me, make light beneath me, and grant me immense light."

Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Among the words most beloved to Allah is that His servant, while in prostration, says these words: 'I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'"

Mujahid said that Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) declared: "When a man places his forehead before Allah in prostration and then says these words three times: 'O my Lord! Forgive me. O my Lord! Forgive me. O my Lord! Forgive me,' then when he raises his head from the prostration he has been forgiven."

Asim said that Abu Wa'il, while in prostration, would supplicate like this: "O my Master! If You pardon me, that pardon will be out of Your grace, and if You punish me, You will not be one who wrongs in punishing, nor will anyone be able to escape You." Then Abu Wa'il would begin to weep.

Abdullah bin Yazid al-Dimashqi said that Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) declared: One night I entered the mosque. Once inside, I passed by a man who was in prostration and making this supplication: "O Allah! I am fearful and seeking refuge, so grant me refuge from Your punishment. I am one who asks and begs, so grant me provision out of Your grace. I am not free of sins that I could offer an excuse, nor am I a man of strength that I could defend myself. Rather, I am one who has sinned and who seeks forgiveness." Then Sayyiduna Abu al-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him) began teaching this supplication to his students because he liked it so much.

Muharib bin Dithar said that Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) declared: "When one of you prostrates, let him say these words: 'O my Lord! I have wronged myself, so forgive me.'"

Muharib said: "For a person is closest to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, in that state."

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: One night I looked for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and could not find him (peace and blessings be upon him). Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I thought that he (peace and blessings be upon him) might have gone to one of his slave women or wives. She said: Then I found him (peace and blessings be upon him) in prostration, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) was reciting this supplication: "O Allah! Forgive me for the deeds I have done in secret or done openly."