Question
What is the status of this Hadith?
Narrated Abu Sa’id (radiyallahu ‘anhu) that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever says when he goes to bed thrice:
‘I seek the forgiveness of Allah, the one whom there’s none worthy of worship except for him the Living the Sustainer and I repent to him’
Allah shall forgive him his sins if they are like the foam of the sea, even if they were the number of leaves of the tree, even if they were the number of sand particles of ‘Alij and even if they were the number of the days of the world.’”
Answer
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever says when he goes to bed thrice:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الحَيَّ القَيُّومَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullahal ‘Azim Alladi La Ilaha illa Huwal Hayyul Qayyumu wa atubu ilayh
Allah shall forgive him his sins if they are like the foam of the sea, even if they were the number of leaves of the tree, even if they were the number of sand particles of ‘Alij [a desert area that has a lot of sand] and even if they were the number of the days of the world.’”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3397)
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared the Hadith weak (gharib). some editions of Tirmidhi have the words ‘hasanun gharib‘. (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3694, Risalah edition)
However, the Hadith is corroborated and is suitable to quote as is the case with Hadiths of this nature. See the corroborating narrations here
Also see: Targhib, vol. 1 pg. 416-417.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar