The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness (Kitab Al-Dhikr)

The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness (Kitab Al-Dhikr)

INTRODUCTION

Supplication is in fact not only the spontaneous outpourings of man's heart before his Lord, but it is an expression of his sense of nearness to Him, of His Might and Power, of his confidence in His mercy, grace and blessings. If one were to know how much a man supplicates, and what he supplicates about, and how he supplicates, one would be able to see how much spirituality is there in his soul. When a man without any witness speaks with Allah, the soul stands unveiled before its Creator. The higher the note he strikes in his outpouring, the higher is the quality of the faith that is imprinted upon his soul, and serves as a background to all his thought and activity. Thus to understand the spirit of any religion and appraise its value to life and society, supplications serve as the key. The Prophet (may peace be upon him) was a great believer in supplication and prayer. He made supplications to his Lord with zeal and fervour, rarely to be found in the religious literature of the world. One who cares to read them cannot but be overwhelmed with the depth of feelings with which the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) approaches his Lord, his intense love for the Great Master, his deep faith in His unbounded Favours, his unshakeable confidence in His Divine Mercy and unflinching faith in His Might and Power, and his sense of deep humility before Him. These are in fact the multi-coloured threads with which is woven the delicate pattern of the Prophet's (may peace be upon him) supplications. In Islam the supplication which a Muslim has been instructed to make whether singly or in congregation, whether at the appointed hour of ritual prayer or at any sudden call or urge to His Lord, reflects the one single attitude of submission, humility and closeness to God. Whatever is the state of spiritual elevation of the supplication he is made to keep this fact constantly in his mind that he is a humble servant of the Lord. That is the reason why most of the supplications in Islam open with an invocation of the Divine Being; either the personal name of God, i. e. Allah, is used or the descriptive title of His Attributes are called out in order to make the worshipper conscious of his own weak and dependent self before his Master. In Islam man seeks to move God to help and grant him what he desires, and at the same time he seeks unconsciously to work upon himself through the realisation of what God means to him, to strengthen, to renew and to refresh his own inner life.

While the expression of dependence and trust is in reality a prerequisite of supplication in Islam, it covers the whole range of human life with all its needs, longings and problems. Supplication finds expression in a deep and urgent longing for self preservation and deliverance from the oppressive situation, forgiveness of sins, elevation of the soul, goodness of the worldly life and that of the Hereafter. This consciousness of one's absolute dependence upon Him, which pervades the entire stock of the Prophet's (may peace be upon him) supplications, shows man's attitude of perfect resignation before the Mighty Will of the Master, but this resignation has nothing of the spirit of despondence and despair in it; it rather illuminates hope out of conviction that the Being Who is the Lord of man's fate can also help him and save him even in the most trying circumstances.

The supplications of Muhammad (may peace be upon him) eminently combine in themselves the mystical and the religious traits. While the Muslim supplicates, he, like a mystic, beholds undisturbed with concentrated gaze one Supreme Spiritual Reality Who is the Embodiment and Repository of all values. But, unlike mystics, he, in the hour of contemplation in supplication, does not lose himself but realises himself to be a humble servant of God and therein lies his spiritual strength and unwavering confidence in God.

The one more distinguishing feature of the supplications taught by Muhammad (may peace be upon him) is that these are all permeated with the spirit of social fellowship. They do not urge man to stand face to face with God in absolute loneliness, isolated from all other human beings. Herein the suppliant begs his Lord with the full consciousness of human brotherhood and with a feeling that the distress which vexes him is not his only, it is that of his brethren. The graces of God and the salvation for which he longs are also the longings of all believers, nay, of the entire humanity. There is no doubt a deep touch of intimate personal and individual contact with God in these supplications, but this contact is not of the nature of a non-Muslim mystic in which the soul is supposed to be unified with God losing all its individual identity. Here the soul has a communion with Allah with full consciousness of man's own self, his social surroundings and responsibilities. That is why most of the supplications have been expressed in the form" We" and Us".

Chapter 1: EXHORTATION FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH, THE EXALTED
Book 035, Number 6471:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, thus stated: I am near to the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him as he remembers Me. And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in assembly, better than his (remembrance), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And if he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.

Book 035, Number 6472:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters, but there is no mention of these words:" He draws near Me by the space of a hand, I draw near him by the space (covered) by two hands."

Book 035, Number 6473:

Hammam b. Munabbih reported so many ahadith from Abu Huraira and one out of them is this that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said that Allah thus stated: When My servant draws close to me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the space of a cubit, and when he draws close to Me by the space of a cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and when he draws close to Me by the space (covered by) two hands, I go in hurry towards him.

Book 035, Number 6474:

Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) was travelling along the path leading to Mecca that he happened to pass by a mountain called Jumdan. He said: Proceed on, it is Jumdan, Mufarradun have gone ahead. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: Allah's Messenger, who are Mufarradun? He said: They are those males and females who remember Allah much.


Chapter 2: THE NAMES OF ALLAH, THE EXALTED, AND THE MERIT OF ONE WHO ENUMERATES THEM
Book 035, Number 6475:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: There are ninety-nine names of Allah; he who commits them to memory would get into Paradise. Verily, Allah is Odd (He is one, and it is an odd number) and He loves odd number. And in the narration of Ibn 'Umar (the words are):" He who enumerated them."

Book 035, Number 6476:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: Verily, there are ninety-nine names for Allah, i. e. hundred excepting one. He who enumerates them would get into Paradise. And Hammam has made this addition on the authority of Abu Huraira who reported it from Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) that he said:" He is Odd (one) and loves odd number."


Chapter 3: SUPPLICATION SHOULD BE MADE WITH CONVICTION AND WILL
Book 035, Number 6477:

Anas reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When one of you makes supplication, he should supplicate with a will and should not say: O Allah, confer upon me if Thou likest, for there is none to coerce Allah.

Book 035, Number 6478:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When one of you makes a supplication (to his Lord) one should not say: O Allah, grant me pardon, if Thou so likest, but one should beg one's (Lord) with a will and full devotion, for there is nothing so great in the eye of Allah which He cannot grant.

Book 035, Number 6479:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: None of you should say to Allah (like this): O Allah, grant me mercy, if thou so likest. The supplication (of his) should (be permeated with) conviction (that it would be accepted by the Lord), for Allah is the Doer of (everything) He likes to do, and there is none to force Him (to do or not to do this or that).


Chapter 4: IT IS NOT SOMETHING APPRECIABLE TO MAKE REQUEST FOR DEATH FROM THE LORD WHEN ONE IS IN TROUBLE
Book 035, Number 6480:

Anas (b. Malik) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying. None of you should make a request for death because of the trouble in which he is involved, but if there is no other help to it, then say: O Allah, keep me alive as long as there is goodness in life for me and bring death to me when there is goodness in death for me.

Book 035, Number 6481:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Anas through another chain of transmitters, but with a small variation of wording.

Book 035, Number 6482:

Nadr b. Anas reported, as when Anas was alive, that he said: Had Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) not stated this.." None should make a request for death," I would have definitely done that.

Book 035, Number 6483:

Abu Hazim reported: I visited Khabbab who bad seven cauteries on his stomach and he s aid: Had Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) not forbidden us to call for death, I would have done so.

Book 035, Number 6484:

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Isma'il through other chains of narrators.

Book 035, Number 6485:

Hammam b. Munabbih said: Abu Huraira narrated to us ahadith from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and out of these one is that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: None amongst you should make a request for death, and do not call for it before it comes, for when any one of you dies, he ceases (to do good) deeds and the life of a believer is not prolonged but for goodness.


Chapter 5: HE WHO LOVES TO MEET ALLAH, ALLAH ALSO LOVES TO MEET HIM, AND HE WHO DISLIKES TO MEET ALLAH, ALLAH ALSO ABHORS TO MEET HIM
Book 035, Number 6486:

Ubida b. Samit reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah also loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah also abhors to meet him.

Book 035, Number 6487:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Ubada b. Samit through another chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6488:

A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah abhors to meet him. I ('A'isha) said: Allah's Apostle, so far as the feeling of aversion against death is concerned, we all have this feeling. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: It is not that (which you construe), but (this) that when a believer (at the time of death) is given the glad tidings of the mercy of Allah, His Pleasure, and of Paradise, he loves to meet Allah, and Allah also loves to meet him, and when an unbeliever is given the news of the torment at the Hand of Allah, and Hardship to be imposed by Him, he dislikes to meet Allah and Allah also abhors to meet him.

Book 035, Number 6489:

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Qatida with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6490:

'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah also loves to meet him, and who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah abhors to meet him. There is death before (one is able to) meet Allah.

Book 035, Number 6491:

A hadith like this has been narrated on the authority of A'isha through another chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6492:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who loves meeting Allah, Allah loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah abhors to meet him. I (Shuraih b. Hani, one of the narrators) came to A'isha and said to her: Mother of the faithful, I heard Abu Huraira narrate from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) which, if it is actually so, is a destruction to us. Thereupon she said: Those are in fact ruined who are ruined at the words of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him). What are (the words which in your opinion would cause your destruction)? He said that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) had stated: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah too loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah too abhors to meet him, and there is none amongst us who dons not hate death. Thereupon she said: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) has in fact stated this, but it does not mean what you construe, but it implies (the time) when one loses the lustre of the eye, and there is rattling in the throat, shudder in the body and convulsion in fingers (at the time of death). (It is about this time) that it has been said: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah would love to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah would abhor to meet him

Book 035, Number 6493:

This hadith has been reported on the authority of Mutarrif with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6494:

Abu Musa reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who loves to meet Allah, Allah too loves to meet him, and he who dislikes to meet Allah, Allah abhors to meet him.


Chapter 6: MERIT OF REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH AND CALLING HIM, AND NEARNESS TO ALLAH, THE EXALTED
Book 035, Number 6495:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him as saying that Allah thus stated: I live in the thought of My servant as he thinks of Me and with him as he calls Me.

Book 035, Number 6496:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said: When My servant draws close to Me by the span of a palm, I draw close to him by the cubit and when he draws close to Me by the cubit, I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and when he draws close to Me by the space (covered) by two hands, I go in hurry towards him.

Book 035, Number 6497:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Mu'tamar from his father with the same chain of transmitters, with a slight variation of wording.

Book 035, Number 6498:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, thus stated: I live in the thought of My servant as he thinks about Me, and I am with him, as he remembers Me And if he remembers Me in his heart, I also remember him in My Heart, and if he remembers Me in assembly I remember him in the assembly, better than he (does that), and if he draws near Me by the span of a palm I draw near him by the cubit, and if he draws near Me by the cubit I draw near him by the space (covered by) two hands. And it he walks towards Me, I rush towards him.

Book 035, Number 6499:

Abu Dharr reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated:" He who comes with goodness, there are in store for him ten like those and even more than those: 'And he who comes with vice, ' it is only for that that he is called to account. I even forgive him (as I like) and he who draws close to Me by the span of a palm I draw close to him by the cubit, and he who draws close to Me by the cubit I draw close to him by the space (covered) by two hands, and he who walks towards Me I rush towards him, and he who meets Me in the state that his sins fill the earth, but not associating anything with Me, I would meet Him with the same (vastness) of pardon (on My behalf)." This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Waki'.

Book 035, Number 6500:

A hadith like this has been transmitted on the authority of A'mash with the same chain of transmitters and he (further) said: There is for him ten like that (the good he performed) or more than that.


Chapter 7: THE DISAPPROVAL OF SUPPLICATION IN WHICH A REQUEST IS MADE TO ALLAH FOR PUNISHMENT OF ONE'S (MISDEEDS) IN THE WORLD
Book 035, Number 6501:

Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) visited a person from amongst the Muslims in order to inquire (about his health) who had grown feeble like the chicken. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Did you supplicate for anything or beg of Him about that? He said: Yes. I used to utter (these words): Impose punishment upon me earlier in this world, what Thou art going to impose upon me in the Hereafter. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Hallowed be Allah, you have neither the power nor forbearance to take upon yourself (the burden of His Punishment). Why did you not say this: O Allah, grant us good in the world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of Fire. He (the Holy Prophet) made this supplication (for him) and he was all right.

Book 035, Number 6502:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Humaid with the same chain of transmitters, but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 035, Number 6503:

Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) visited a person from amongst his Companions who had grown as feeble as the chicken. The rest of the hadith is the same, but with this variation that he (the Holy Prophet) said: You have not power enough to undergo the torment imposed by Allah. And there is no mention of: He supplicated Allah for him and He cured him.

Book 035, Number 6504:

This hadith had been transmitted on the authority of Anas through another chain of narrators.


Chapter 8: MERITS OF THE ASSEMBLIES IN WHICH ALLAH IS REMEMBERED
Book 035, Number 6505:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying Allah has mobile (squads) of angels, who have no other work (to attend to but) to follow the assemblies of Dhikr and when they find such assemblies in which there is Dhikr (of Allah) they sit in them and some of them surround the others with their wings till the space between them and the sky of the world is fully covered, and when they disperse (after the assembly of Dhikr is adjourned) they go upward to the heaven and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, asks them although He is best informed about them: Where have you come from? They say: We come from Thine servants upon the earth who had been glorifying Thee (reciting Subhan Allah), uttering Thine Greatness (saying Allah o-Akbar) and uttering Thine Oneness (La ilaha ill Allah) and praising Thee (uttering al-Hamdu Lillah) and begging of Thee. Be would say: What do they beg of Me? They would say: They beg of Thee the Paradise of Thine. He (God) would say: Have they seen My Paradise? They said: No, our Lord. He would say: (What it would be then) if they were to see Mine Paradise? They (the angels) said: They seek Thine protection. He (the Lord) would say: Against what do they seek protection of Mine? They (the angels) would say: Our Lord, from the Hell-Fire. He (the Lord) would say: Have they seen My Fire? They would say: No. He (the Lord) would say: What it would be if they were to see My Fire? They would say: They beg of Thee forgiveness. He would say: I grant pardon to them, and confer upon them what they ask for and grant them protection against which they seek protection. They (the angels) would again say: Our Lord, there is one amongst them such and such simple servant who happened to pass by (that assembly) and sat there along with them (who had been participating in that assembly). He (the Lord) would say: I also grant him pardon, for they are a people the seat-fellows of whom are in no way unfortunate.


Chapter 9: THE MERIT OF THIS (SUPPLICATION):" O ALLAH, GRANT US THE GOOD IN THE WORLD AND GOOD IN THE HEREAFTER AND SAVE US FROM THE TORMENT OF HELL"
Book 035, Number 6506:

Qatada asked Anas which Supplication Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) frequently made. He said: The supplication that he (the Holy Prophet made very frequently is this:" O Allah, grant us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of Hell-Fire." He (Qatada) said that whenever Anas had to supplicate he made this very supplication, and whenever he (intended) to make another supplication he (inserted) this very supplication in that.

Book 035, Number 6507:

Anas reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to supplicate (in these words):" Our Lord, grant us the good in this world and the good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of Hell Fire."


Chapter 10: THE MERIT OF PRONOUNCING TAHLIL, TASBIH AND SUPPLICATION
Book 035, Number 6508:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who uttered these words:" There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Sovereignty belongs to Him and all the praise is due to Him, and He is Potent over everything" one hundred times every day there is a reward of emancipating ten slaves for him, and there are recorded hundred virtues to his credit, and hundred vices are blotted out from his scroll, and that is a safeguard for him against the Satan on that day till evening and no one brings anything more excellent than this, except one who has done more than this (who utters these words more than one hundred times and does more good acts) and he who utters:" Hallowed be Allah, and all praise is due to Him," one hundred times a day, his sins are obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the ocean.

Book 035, Number 6509:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who recites in the morning and in the evening (these words):" Hallowed be Allah and all praise is due to Him" one hundred times, he would not bring on the Day of Resurrection anything excellent than this except one who utters these words or utters more than these words.

Book 035, Number 6510:

'Amr b. Maimun reported: He who uttered:" There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him, His is the Sovereignty and all praise is due to Him and He is Potent over everything" ten times, he is like one who emancipated four slaves from the progeny of Isma'il. Rabi' b. Khuthaim narrated a hadith like this. Sha'bi reported: I said to Rabi': From whom did you hear it? He said: From 'Amr b. Maimun. I came to 'Amr b. Maimun and said to him: From whom did you hear this hadith? He said: from Ibn Abi Laila. I came to Ibn Abi Laila and said to him: From whom did you hear this hadith? He said: From Abu Ayyub Ansari, who narrated from Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him).

Book 035, Number 6511:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Two are the expressions which are light on the tongue, but heavy in scale, dear to the Compassionate One:" Hallowed be Allah and praise is due to Him" ;" Hallowed be Allah, the Great."

Book 035, Number 6512:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The uttering of (these words):" Hallowed be Allah; all praise is due to Allah, there is no god but Allah and Allah is the Greatest," is dearer to me than anything over which the sun rises.

Book 035, Number 6513:

Mu'sab b. Sa'd reported on the authority of his father that a desert Arab came to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and said to him: Teach me the words which I should (often) utter. He said: Utter," There is no god but Allah, the One, having no partner with Him. Allah is the Greatest of the great and all praise is due to Him. Hallowed be Allah, the Lord of the worlds, there is no Might and Power but that of Allah, the All-Powerful and the Wise." He (that desert Arab) said: These all (glorify) my Lord. But what about me? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: You should say:" O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to righteousness and provide me sustenance." Musa (one of the narrators) said: I think he also said:" Grant me safety." But I cannot say for certain whether he said this or not. Ibn Abi Shaiba has not made a mention of the words of Musa in his narration.

Book 035, Number 6514:

Abu Malik Ashaja'i reported on the authority of his father that whenever a person embraced Islam, Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) instructed him to recilte:" O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to the path of righteousness and provide me sustenance."

Book 035, Number 6515:

Abu Malik reported on the authority of his father that when a person embraced Islam, Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) used to teach him how to observe prayer and then commanded him to supplicate in these words:" O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to the path of righteousness, grant me protection and provide me sustenance."

Book 035, Number 6516:

Abu Malik reported on the authority Of his father that he heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying to the person who bad come to him and asked him as to how he should beg his Lord, that he should utter these words:" O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, protect me, provide me sustenance," and he collected his fingers together except his thumb and said: It is in these words (that there is supplication) which sums up for you (the good) of this world and that of the Hereafter.

Book 035, Number 6517:

Mus'ab b. Sa'd reported that his father told him that he had been in the company of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) that he said: Is one amongst you powerless to get one thousand virtues every day. Amongst those who had been sitting there, one asked: How one amongst us can get one thousand virtues every day? He said: Recite:" Hallowed be Allah" one hundred times for (by reciting them) one thousand virtues are recorded (to your credit) and one tbousand vices are blotted out.


Chapter 11: THE MERIT OF AN ASSEMBLY FOR THE RECITATION OF THE QUR'AN OR FOR TIIE DHIKR (REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH)
Book 035, Number 6518:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who alleviates the suffering of a brother out of the sufferings of the world, Allah would alleviate his suffering from the sufferings of the Day of Resurrection, and he who finds relief for one who is hard pressed, Allah would make things easy for him in the Hereafter, and he who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in the world and in the Hereafter. Allah is at the back of a servant so long as the servant is at the back of his brother, and he who treads the path in search of know- ledge, Allah would make that path easy, leading to Paradise for him and those persons who assemble in the house among the houses of Allah (mosques) and recite the Book of Allah and they learn and teach the Qur'an (among themselves) there would descend upon them the tranquillity and mercy would cover them and the angels would surround them and Allah makes a mention of them in the presence of those near Him, and he who is slow-paced in doing good deeds, his (high) descent does not make him go ahead.

Book 035, Number 6519:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters but with a slight variation of wording.

Book 035, Number 6520:

Agharr Abi Muslim reported: I bear witness to the fact that both Abu Huraira and Abu Sa'id Khudri were present when Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him) said: The people do not sit but they are surrounded by angels and covered by Mercy, and there descends upon them tranquillity as they remember Allah, and Allah makes a mention of them to those who are near Him. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6521:

Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Mu'awiya went to a circle in the mosque and said: What makes you sit here? They said: We are sitting here in order to re- member Allah. He said: I adjure you by Allah (to tell me whether you are sitting here for this very purpose)? They said: By Allah, we are sitting here for this very purpose. Thereupon, he said: I have not demanded you to take an oath, because of any allegation against you and none of my rank in the eye of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) is the narrator of so few ahadith as I am. The fact is that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) went out to the circle of his Companions and said: What makes you sit? They said: We are sitting here in order to remember Allah and to praise Him for He guided us to the path of Islam and He conferred favours upgn us. Thereupon he adjured by Allah and asked if that only was the purpose of their sitting there. They said: By Allah, we are not sitting here but for this very purpose, whereupon he (the Messenger) said: I am not asking you to take an oath because of any allegation against you but for the fact that Gabriel came to me and he informed me that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, was talking to the angels about your magnificence.


Chapter 12: EXCELLENCE OF SEEKING FORGIVENESS FROM ALLAH AND SEEKING THAT VERY MUCH
Book 035, Number 6522:

Al-Agharr al-Muzani, who was one amongst the Companions (of the Holy Prophet) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: There is (at times) some sort of shade upon my heart, and I seek forgiveness from Allah a hundred times a day.

Book 035, Number 6523:

Al-Agharr al-Muzani who was from amongst the Companions of Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) reported that Ibn 'Umar stated to him that Allah's Messenger (may peace 'be upon him) said: O people, seek repentance from Allah. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day.

Book 035, Number 6524:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6525:

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as say- ing: He who seeks repentance (from the Lord) before the rising of the sun from the west (before the Day of Resurrection), Allah turns to him with Mercy.


Chapter 13: EXCELLENCE OF REMEMBERING ALLAH IN A LOW VOICE
Book 035, Number 6526:

Abu Musa reported: We were along with Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) on a journey when the people began to pronounce Allah-o-Akbar in a loud voice. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: O people, sh mercy to yourselves for you are not calling One Who is deaf or absent. Verily, you are calling One Who is All-Hearing (and) Near to you and is with you. Abu Musa told that he had been behind him (the Holy Prophet) and reciting:" There is neither might nor power but that of Allah." He (the Holy Prophet), while addressing 'Abdullah b. Qais, said: Should I not direct you to a treasure from amongst the treasurers of Para- dise? I ('Abdullah b. Qais) said: Allah's Messenger, do it, of course. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Then recite:" There is no might and no power but that of Allah."

Book 035, Number 6527:

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Asim with the same chain of transmitters.

Book 035, Number 6528:

Abu Musa reported that he (and his other companions) were climbing upon the hillock along with Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) and when any person climbed up, he pronounced (loudly):" There is no god but Allah, Allah is the Greatest." Thereupon Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Verily, you are not supplicating One Who is deaf or absent. He said: Abu Musa or Abdullah b Qais, should I not direct you to the words (which form) the treasure of Paradise? I said: Allah's Messenger, what are these? He said:" There is no might and no power but that of Allah."

Book 035, Number 6529:

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Musa with a slight variation of wording.