Shaddad b. Aus reported Allah’s messenger (salalaho alehi wa ala alihi wasalam) as saying that
“The best manner of asking pardon is to say:
| اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعَتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ |
O God, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me, and I am Your servant and hold to Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor to me, and I acknowledge my sin. Forgive me, for none but You forgive sins. |
| Allāhumma anta Rabbī lā ilāha illā ant, khalaqtanī wa anā `abduk, wa anā `alā `ahdika wa wa`dika mastaṭa`t, a`ūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣana`t, abū’u laka bi ni`matika `alay, wa abū’u bidhanbī faghfir lī fa’innahu lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant. |
| He said that if anyone says it during the day-time with firm belief in it and dies that day before evening, he will be one of those who go to paradise; and if anyone says it during the night with firm belief in it and dies before morning, he will be one of those who go to paradise.” Bukhari transmitted it. |
| Mishkat al-Masabih 2335 |