Al-Kāfi - Volume 2 > Plea for Forgiveness
Hadith #1

1ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) خَيْرُ الدُّعَاءِ الإسْتِغْفَارُ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from al-Nawfali from al-Sakuni from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘The best prayer and plea before Allah for help is the plea for forgiveness and protection against the consequences of sins.’”



Hadith #2

2ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَيْفٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَمِيلَةَ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) إِذَا أَكْثَرَ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الإسْتِغْفَارِ رُفِعَتْ صَحِيفَتُهُ وَهِيَ تَتَلألأ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Husayn ibn Sayf from abu Jamilah from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurara who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) has said, ‘One who pleas for forgiveness often, his book of record of deeds is raised and it shines brilliantly.’”



Hadith #3

3ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ يَاسِرٍ عَنِ الرِّضَا (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ مَثَلُ الإسْتِغْفَارِ مَثَلُ وَرَقٍ عَلَى شَجَرَةٍ تُحَرَّكُ فَيَتَنَاثَرُ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرُ مِنْ ذَنْبٍ وَيَفْعَلُهُ كَالْمُسْتَهْزِئِ بِرَبِّهِ.

3. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Yasir from al-Rida (a.s.) who has said the following: “A plea for forgiveness is like shaking a tree from which leaves fall off. One who pleas forgiveness and commits sins is like one who derides his Lord.”



Hadith #4

4ـ عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) أَنَّ رَسُولَ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) كَانَ لا يَقُومُ مِنْ مَجْلِسٍ وَإِنْ خَفَّ حَتَّى يَسْتَغْفِرَ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ خَمْساً وَعِشْرِينَ مَرَّةً.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from Muhammad ibn Sinan from Talhah ibn Zayd from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah would not leave a gathering - even a small one until - he would plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, twenty-five times.”



Hadith #5

5ـ عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ الْمُغِيرَةِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) يَسْتَغْفِرُ الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَيَتُوبُ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً قَالَ قُلْتُ كَانَ يَقُولُ أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً وَيَقُولُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَى الله وَأَتُوبُ إِلَى الله سَبْعِينَ مَرَّةً.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Mu’awiyah ibn ‘Ammar from al-Harith ibn al-Mughirah from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah would plea for protection seventy times everyday and turn to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, seventy times everyday.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘Would he say, I plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah and turn to Him?’ The Imam said, ‘He would say, “I plea for protection (forgiveness) from Allah, I plea for protection from Allah,” seventy times. And would say, ‘I return to Allah, I return to Allah,’ seventy times.’”



Hadith #6

6ـ أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الأشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ يَحْيَى عَنْ حُسَيْنِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيهِ السَّلام) قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ الله (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وآلِه) الإسْتِغْفَارُ وَقَوْلُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا الله خَيْرُ الْعِبَادَةِ قَالَ الله الْعَزِيزُ الْجَبَّارُ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا إِلهَ إِلا الله وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ.

6. Abu Ali al-Ash’ari has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan ibn Yahya from Husayn ibn Yazid from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.) who has said the following: “The Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Plea for forgiveness, and the words: ‘No one deserves to be worshipped except Allah’ are the best forms of worship.’ Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Mighty, has said, ‘Notice that Allah is the only Lord who deserves to be worshipped. Ask forgiveness for your sins. . . .’” (47:19)