Ali ibn Rabi'ah said: I was present with Ali while a beast was brought to him to ride. When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: "In the name of Allah." Then when he sat on its back, he said: "Praise be to Allah." He then said: "Glory be to Him Who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength, and to our Lord do we return." He then said: "Praise be to Allah (thrice); Allah is Most Great (thrice): glory be to Thee, I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for only Thou forgivest sins." He then laughed. He was asked: At what did you laugh? He replied: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do as I have done, and laugh after that. I asked: Messenger of Allah , at what are you laughing? He replied: Your Lord, Most High, is pleased with His servant when he says: "Forgive me my sins." He know that no one forgives sins except Him.  

شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا ؓ وَأُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ { سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ * وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ } ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقِيلَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَعَلَ كَمَا فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَىِّ شَىْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ قَالَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ يَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرِي  

“I witnessed Ali having an animal brought to him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup he said: ‘In the Name of Allah,’ (Bismillāh) [three times]. So then, once he had ascended upon its back, he said: ‘All praise is due to Allah.’ (Al-ḥamdulillāh) then he said: Glory is to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we were not able to do it. And, surely, to our Lord are we returning (Subḥān alladhī sakh-khara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn. Wa innā ilā rabbinā lamunqalibūn). Then he said: ‘All praise is due to Allah (Al-ḥamdulillāh)’ – three times – and ‘Allah is the Greatest (Allāhu Akbar)’ – three times – ‘Glory is to You, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for indeed none forgives sins except You (Subḥānaka innī qad ẓalamtu nafsī faghfirlī fa-innahū lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant).’ Then he laughed. So I said: ‘O Commander of the Believer! What caused you to laugh?’ He said: ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah do as I did, then he ﷺ laughed, so I said, ‘What cause you to laugh?’ He said: ‘Indeed, your Lord is very pleased with His worshipper when he says: “O my Lord, forgive me my sins, indeed, no one other than You forgives sins.”  

شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ( سبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ * وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ) ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلاَثًا وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاَثًا سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرُكَ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ؓ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ  

I saw ‘Ali ؓ when a mount was brought to him to ride. When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: Bismillah (in the Name of Allah). When he got on it, he said: Glory be to the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny. Then he said Alhamdulillah three times and Allahu Akbar three times, then he said: Glory be to You, there is no god but You. I have indeed wronged myself, so forgive me. Then he smiled, and I said: Why are you smiting, O Ameer al-Muʿmimeen? He said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do what I have done, then he smiled and I said: Why are you smiling O Messenger of Allah ﷺ He said: ʿThe Lord marvels at His slave when he says, ʿLord forgive me,ʿ and He says: ʿMy slave knows that no one forgives sins but Me.ʿ  

رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَيْهَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ثُمَّ حَمِدَ اللهَ ثَلاثًا وَكَبَّرَ ثَلاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِمَّ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِمَّ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ؟ قَالَ يَعْجَبُ الرَّبُّ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَيَقُولُ عَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرِي  

ʿAbdur-Razzaq said. Someone who saw ʿAli when he rode told me: When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: Bismillah (in the Name of Allah). When he got on it, he said: Al-Hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah). Then he said: ʿGlory be to the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny [az-Zukhruf 43:13-14]ʿ. Then he said Al-hamdu Lillah three times and Allahu Akbar three times, then he said: O Allah, there is no god but You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You. Then he smiled, and it was said: What made you smile, O Ameer al-Muʿmineen? He said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do what I have done and say what I have said, then he smiled and we said: What made you smile, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: ʿI was amazed at the slave when he said there is no god but You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You,” and he knows that no one forgives sins but He.”  

أَخْبَرَنِي مَنْ شَهِدَ عَلِيًّا حِينَ رَكِبَ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ثُمَّ حَمِدَ ثَلاثًا وَكَبَّرَ ثَلاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ اللهُمَّ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ قَالَ فَقِيلَ مَا يُضْحِكُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلْتُ وَقَالَ مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْنَا مَا يُضْحِكُكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ؟ قَالَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ قَالَ عَجِبْتُ لِلْعَبْدِ إِذَا قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا هُوَ  

Bismillah (in the Name of Allah). When he got on his mount, he said: Al-Hamdu Lillah. ʿGlory be to the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destinyʿ [Az-Zukhruf 43:13,14]. Abu Sa’eed, the freed slave of Banu Hashim, said: Then he said Al-Hamdu Lillah three times and Allahu Akbar three times, then he said Subhan Allah three times. Then he said: There is no god but You. Then he [the narrator] went back to the hadeeth of Wakee’ and said: Glory be to You, I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You. Then he smiled, and I said: What made you smile? He said: I was riding behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and he did what you have seen me do, then he smiled and I said: What made you smile, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: ʿAllah, may He be blessed and exalted, says: How remarkable is My slave; He knows that no one forgives sin except Me.ʿ  

كُنْتُ رِدْفَ عَلِيٍّ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ {سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ} [الزخرف 14] وَقَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ مَوْلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ ثُمَّ حَمِدَ اللهَ ثَلاثًا وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللهِ ثَلاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ إِلَى حَدِيثِ وَكِيعٍ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ قُلْتُ مَا يُضْحِكُكَ؟ قَالَ كُنْتُ رِدْفًا لِرَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَفَعَلَ كَالَّذِي رَأَيْتَنِي فَعَلْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ مَا يُضْحِكُكَ؟ قَالَ قَالَ اللهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَجَبٌ لِعَبْدِي يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرِي  

ʿAbdur-Razzaq said. Someone who saw ʿAli when he rode told me: When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: Bismillah (in the Name of Allah). When he got on it, he said: Al-Hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah). Then he said: ʿGlory be to the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny [az-Zukhruf 43:13-14]ʿ. Then he said Al-hamdu Lillah three times and Allahu Akbar three times, then he said: O Allah, there is no god but You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You. Then he smiled, and it was said: What made you smile, O Ameer al-Muʿmineen? He said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do what I have done and say what I have said, then he smiled and we said: What made you smile, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: ʿI was amazed at the slave when he said there is no god but You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You,” and he knows that no one forgives sins but He.” (Using translation from Aḥmad 930)   

رَأَيْتُ عَلِيًّا أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ «بِسْمِ اللهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَيْهَا» قَالَ {سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ} [الزخرف 14] ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ ثَلَاثًا وَحَمِدَ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ «لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ» فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ «يَوْمًا مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ اسْتَضْحَكَ» فَقُلْتُ مِمَّا اسْتَضْحَكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ قَالَ «يَعْجَبُ رَبِّنَا مِنْ قَوْلِ عَبْدِهِ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ» قَالَ «عَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ»  

ʿAbdur-Razzaq said. Someone who saw ʿAli when he rode told me: When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: Bismillah (in the Name of Allah). When he got on it, he said: Al-Hamdu Lillah (praise be to Allah). Then he said: ʿGlory be to the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny [az-Zukhruf 43:13-14]ʿ. Then he said Al-hamdu Lillah three times and Allahu Akbar three times, then he said: O Allah, there is no god but You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You. Then he smiled, and it was said: What made you smile, O Ameer al-Muʿmineen? He said: I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ do what I have done and say what I have said, then he smiled and we said: What made you smile, O Messenger of Allah ﷺ? He said: ʿI was amazed at the slave when he said there is no god but You. I have wronged myself, so forgive me; no one forgives sins but You,” and he knows that no one forgives sins but He.” (Using translation from Aḥmad 930)   

أَنَّهُ شَهِدَ عَلِيًّا ؓ حِينَ رَكِبَ فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِاسْمِ اللهِ فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ {سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ} [الزخرف 14] ثُمَّ حَمِدَ ثَلَاثًا وَكَبَّرَ ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا يُضْحِكُكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فَعَلَ مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلْتُ وَقَالَ مِثْلَ مَا قُلْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْنَا مَا يُضْحِكُكَ يَا نَبِيَّ اللهِ؟ قَالَ الْعَبْدُ أَوْ قَالَ عَجِبْتُ لِلْعَبْدِ إِذَا قَالَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا هُوَ  

" عَنْ عَلِىِّ بنِ ربيعةَ قالَ: رأيتُ عليًّا أُتِىَ بدابَّةٍ فلما وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِى الرِّكَابِ قَالَ: بِسم الله، فلمَّا اسَتوَى عليهَا قَالَ: {سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ (13) وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ}، ثم حَمِدَ الله ثلاثًا، وكبَّرَ ثلاثًا، وقَالَ: سبحانَ الله ثلاثًا، ثم قالَ: سبحانَك لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا أنتَ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفسى فاغفْر لِى ذُنُوبى إنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذنوبَ إلا أنتَ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فقلتُ: مِمَّ ضَحِكتَ يا أميرَ المؤمنينَ؟ قالَ: كنتُ رِدْفَ النبىِّ ﷺ ففعلَ مثلَ ما فعلتُ ثم ضَحِكَ فقلتُ: مم ضحكتَ يا رسولَ الله؟ قَالَ: تعجَّبَ الربُّ من عبدِهِ إذَا قَالَ: ربِّ اغفْر لِى، ويقولُ: عَلِمَ عبدِى أَنَّهُ لا يغفرُ الذنوبَ غَيْرِى، وفى لفظٍ: إن الله ليضحكُ إلى العبدِ إذا قالَ: لا إلهَ إلا أنتَ سُبحانكَ إنِّى ظلمتُ نفسى فاغفرْ لِى ذُنُوبِى إنهُ لا يغفرُ الذنوبَ إلا أنتَ، قالَ: عبدِى عَرَفَ أنَّ لهُ ربّا يغفرُ ويُعَاقِبُ ".