The Sunnah Supplication Between Two Prostrations and the Authenticity of the Report
Based on: Fatawa of the Scholars of Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Vol. 1 | Muhaddith Fatwa
❖ Question
Is the following supplication between the two prostrations authentic:
“اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي“?
If not, then what did the Prophet ﷺ actually recite between the two Sajdahs?
❖ Status of the Report
The supplication:
“اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي“
“O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.”
This is reported in Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi, but the chain contains Habib ibn Abi Thabit, who was a Mudallis (a narrator known for concealing the identity of his sources) and narrated using ‘an‘ (عن), which weakens the chain.
Therefore, from a strictly sanad-based perspective, the narration is considered weak.
However, al-Hakim and al-Dhahabi have authenticated this report, and some scholars permit acting upon it due to the nature of the supplication and its alignment with general Du‘as found in other sound narrations.
❖ Authenticated Sunnah Supplication
The sound narration that is firmly established from the Prophet ﷺ for the supplication between the two prostrations is:
“رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي“
(Abu Dawud)
Translation: “My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.”
This supplication is authentic and firmly established in the Sunnah.
❖ Summary
✔ The supplication “اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي…” is reported in Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi but has weakness in its chain due to a Mudallis narrator.
✔ Despite its weakness, some scholars allow practicing upon it due to the general nature of the Du‘a.
✔ The authentic and Sunnah supplication the Prophet ﷺ recited between two prostrations is:
“رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي“
