حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا - رضى الله عنه - 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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 ‏"

Narrated Ali ibn AbuTalib

Ali ibn Rabi'ah said: I witnessed Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—when a mount was brought to him for him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup, he said: In the name of Allah. When he settled on its back, he said: Praise be to Allah. Then he said:

Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could never have combined with it, and indeed to our Lord we shall return.

Then he said: Praise be to Allah, three times. Then he said: Allah is the greatest, three times. Then he said: Glory be to You, I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for indeed none forgives sins except You. Then he smiled. It was said: O Commander of the Faithful, at what did you smile? He replied: I saw the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, do as I have done. Then he smiled, and I asked: O Messenger of Allah, at what did you smile? He replied: Indeed, your Lord is amazed at His servant when he says: Forgive me my sins, while he knows that no one forgives sins except Me.