In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:

I said to Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, “O Allah’s Messenger! Teach me a supplication to say in my prayers”, he said, Say:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

O Allah! I have wronged myself with many wrongs and none forgives except You, so forgive me and have mercy upon me. Verily, you alone are the Forgiving, the Merciful’”

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Supplication is three types:

The first type is to invoke Allah by His Names and Attributes, and this is one of the explanations of Allah’s statement:

  وَلِلَّهِ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ فَٱدۡعُوهُ بِہَا

And (all) the Most Beautiful [perfect] Names belong to Allaah, so supplicate to Him by them]. [Al-A’raaf. 180]

The second type is that you invoke Allah for your need and due to your poverty, saying:

I am Your poor slave, the needy one, the one to be pitied, the one seeking help and refuge etc.

The third type is that you ask for your need while not using the aforementioned two types of invocations. The first invocation is more perfect and the second is more perfect than the third.

Therefore, if an invocation gathers all three types, then it will be most perfect and this is what the invocations of the Prophet usually comprised of.

And in this invocation which Siddeeq Al-Ummah [i.e. AbuBakr] was taught, the three types of invocations are mentioned. In the beginning of the supplication:

[اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا – O Allah! I have wronged myself with many wrong]:

This clarifies the situation of the one asking.

Then one says: [وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ – and none forgives except You]: This is about the affair of the one being asked.

Then one says: [فَاغْفِرْ لِي – So forgive me]: Here one mentions his need, and then ends the innovation with two Names from Allah’s Names that necessitates and fitting what is being requested. [1]

Ibn Battal, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

In this supplication is the fact that it is obligated to a servant of Allah to be mindful of his Lord in all circumstances, even if he is one of those who strives the most in worship, because despite the position of Abu Bakr in the religion, he was not exempted from having the need for seeking the forgiveness of his Lord. [2]

Ibn Daqeeq Al-Eid, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

This hadith passes judgement with regards to making this supplication in Salah without specifying where it should be performed. However, perhaps the best place where it is most worthy are two- either in Sujud or after Tashahud, because they are the two places we have been commanded to make du’aa.  The Prophet,  peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said,

“And while in prostration, then make effort in supplication”. [Muslim 479].

And regarding Tashahud [i.e. after Tashahud and before Tasleem], he said:

“Then select the invocation you like best and recite it”. [Bukhaari 835].

Perhaps the best place would be after Tashahud due to the importance given to the affair. [3]

Ibn Mulqin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

“This hadith establishes proof regarding the fact that it is legislated to seek knowledge from the scholars, especially in relation to the supplications of the prayer”. [4]

[1] Jalaa Al-Ifhaam. 201

[2] Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari. By Ibn Battaal 10/93

[3] Ihkam Al-Ahkaam. 1/314-315

[4] Al- I’lam Sharh Umdah Al-Ahkam 3/511