the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “there is not anyone upon the earth who says: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no might nor power except by Allah, (Lā ilāha illallāh, wa Allāhu akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh) except that his sins shall be pardoned, even if they were like the foam of the sea.”
Hadith Text
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There is not anyone upon the earth who says: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no might nor power except by Allah, (Lā ilāha illallāh, wa Allāhu akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh) except that his sins shall be pardoned, even if they were like the foam of the sea."
Source Reference
Book: Chapters on Supplication
Author: Jami' at-Tirmidhi
Hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3460
Scholarly Commentary
This profound hadith contains three foundational declarations of Islamic faith and dependence. "Lā ilāha illallāh" affirms divine unity and negates all false worship. "Allāhu akbar" establishes Allah's absolute greatness above all creation. "Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh" acknowledges complete dependence on Allah for all ability and power.
The scholars explain that these phrases encompass the essence of tawhid (monotheism), divine majesty, and human reliance. Their combined recitation serves as comprehensive spiritual protection and purification. The comparison to "foam of the sea" illustrates the vastness of Allah's mercy - just as ocean foam appears immense yet vanishes, so too can mountains of sins be erased through sincere remembrance.
Imam al-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan (sound), indicating its reliable chain of transmission. The perpetual efficacy of these words demonstrates that Allah's mercy transcends human limitations, offering boundless forgiveness to those who sincerely turn to Him through these profound remembrances.