Seeking Forgiveness: Tradition of the Prophets and the Righteous

The Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, and the virtuous and righteous people were the quickest of all to comply with the call of Allah The Almighty.

Our father Aadam (Adam) and our mother Hawwaa’ (Eve), may Allah exalt their mention:

They responded to the call of Allah The Almighty immediately after they disobeyed Him when Shaytaan (Satan) caused them to slip and drove them to commit a sin. They hastened to show remorse and to repent. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):{They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.} [Quran 7:23]

Nooh (Noah), may Allah exalt his mention:

When he, may Allah exalt his mention, felt sympathy for his disbelieving son, he said (what means): {…"My Lord, indeed my son is of my family; and indeed, Your promise is true; and You Are the most just of judges!} [Quran 11:45] Then Allaah The Almighty Said to him (what means): {…"O Nooh, indeed he is not of your family; indeed, he is [one whose] work was other than righteous, so ask Me not for that about which you have no knowledge. Indeed, I advise you, lest you be among the ignorant.}[Quran 11:46]

Then, Nooh, may Allah exalt his mention, asked for the forgiveness of Allah The Almighty, repenting of what he said. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {… "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from asking that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers.} [Quran 11:47]

Besides, after Allah The Exalted had punished the disbelieving people of Nooh, may Allah exalt his mention, with drowning and saved the believing people with Nooh, may Allah exalt his mention, he said(which means): {My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.} [Quran 71:28]

Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention:

Ibraaheem, may Allah exalt his mention, who was the intimate friend of Allah The Exalted, said in the verse (which means): {And who I aspire that He will forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense.} [Quran 26:82]

Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention:

Moosa, may Allah exalt his mention, says in the verse (which means): {He said, “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me,” and He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.} [Quran 28:16] He, may Allah exalt his mention, also says (what means): {[Moosa] said, "My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.} [Quran 7:151]

Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam:

The Companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to seek the forgiveness of Allah The Almighty at least one hundred times in each gathering, saying: "O Lord, forgive my sins and grant me (accept my) repentance; for You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful." In another version: "… You are the Forgiving, the Merciful." [Abu Daawood] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah The Exalted and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day." [Al-Bukhaari]

Furthermore, Allah The Almighty urges the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, to seek His forgiveness. He, the Exalted, Says (what means): {… ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women…} [Quran 47:19]

Yoonus (Jonah), may Allah exalt his mention:

Prophet Yoonus, may Allah exalt his mention, called out in the darkness of the whale’s belly (what means): {There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.} [Quran 21:87]

Daawood (David), may Allah exalt his mention:

Daawood, may Allah exalt his mention, supplicated Allah The Exalted as Allah The Exalted Says (what means): {And Daawood became certain that We had tried him, and he asked forgiveness of his Lord and fell down bowing [in prostration] and turned in repentance [to Allah].} [Quran 38: 24]

Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him:

Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, the best of this nation after the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, asked the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, "O Messenger of Allah, teach me an invocation with which I may invoke Allah in my prayers.” The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Say, ‘Allahumma inni thalamtu nafsi thulman katheeran wa la yaghfir ath-thunoob illa ant; ighfir li maghfiratan min ‘indik wa irhamni, innaka anta Al-Ghafoor Ar-Raheem (O Allaah, I have wronged my soul very much and none forgives the sins but You; so please bestow Your forgiveness and mercy upon me. No doubt, You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful).’” [Al-Bukhaari]

‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him:

‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, "O Messenger of Allah, ask forgiveness for me."

There are numerous righteous and devout people other than these, who used to seek the forgiveness of Allah The Almighty frequently; repentance was their banner, their request for forgiveness was their slogan, and they repeatedly turned to Allah The Almighty. -islamweb.net