Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that Husayn, before accepting Islam, came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Muhammad (peace be upon him)! Abdul Muttalib was better for his people; he used to feed them the liver and hump meat (of animals), whereas you slaughter these (animals) completely. So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied as Allah willed. Then Husayn said: Muhammad (peace be upon him)! What do you command me to recite? He (peace be upon him) said: "O Allah! Indeed, I seek refuge in You from the evil of my soul, and I ask You to grant me steadfastness in my good deeds." He (Imran) says: After that, Husayn accepted Islam, then came to the service of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Indeed, I asked you the first time, and now again I ask you, what do you command me to recite? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Say: "O Allah! Forgive my sins which I committed secretly and openly, those I committed by mistake and those I committed deliberately, those I committed unknowingly and those I committed knowingly."
Hadith Referenceمسند الشهاب / 1480
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij«إسناده صحيح ، وأخرجه ابن حبان فى «صحيحه» برقم: 899، والنسائي فى «الكبریٰ» برقم: 10766، وأحمد فى «مسنده» برقم: 20311»
Brief Explanation
Explanation: In these hadiths, two comprehensive supplications granted to the Ummah by the Prophet of Mercy (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) are mentioned: ① The supplication for seeking forgiveness from Allah Almighty for all kinds of sins—whether committed knowingly or unknowingly, secretly or openly: «اللَّهُمَّاغْفِرْلِيمَاأَخْطَأْتُوَمَاتَعَمَّدْتُ،وَمَاأَسْرَرْتُوَمَاأَعْلَنْتُ،وَمَاجَهِلْتُوَمَاتَعَمَّدْتُ» ② The supplication for seeking refuge with Allah Almighty from the evil of the self (nafs), because the self does not allow a person to turn towards guidance and goodness. Therefore, a supplication has been taught: O Allah! Protect me from the evil of my self and grant me guidance and steadfastness upon it. «اللَّهُمَّإِنِّيأَعُوذُبِكَمِنْشَرِّنَفْسِيوَأَسْأَلُكَأَنْتَعْزِمَلِيعَلَىرُشْدِأَمْرِي»