Hadith: There is no man who commits a sin, then gets up and performs Tahārah (ritual purification), then performs prayer, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, except that Allah forgives him

‌عن عَلِيٍّ قَالَ: إِنِّي كُنْتُ رَجُلًا إِذَا سَمِعْتُ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَدِيثًا نَفَعَنِي اللهُ مِنْهُ بِمَا شَاءَ أَنْ يَنْفَعَنِي بِهِ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ اسْتَحْلَفْتُهُ، فَإِذَا حَلَفَ لِي صَدَّقْتُهُ، وَإِنَّهُ حَدَّثَنِي ‌أَبُو بَكْرٍ، وَصَدَقَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:
«مَا مِنْ رَجُلٍ يُذْنِبُ ذَنْبًا، ثُمَّ يَقُومُ فَيَتَطَهَّرُ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي، ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ، إِلَّا غَفَرَ اللهُ لَهُ»، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ: {وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ} [آل عمران: 135].
[صحيح] - [رواه أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي في الكبرى وابن ماجه وأحمد] - [سنن الترمذي: 406]

‘Ali reported: Indeed I am a man who, when hearing a Hadīth from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), Allah benefitted me thereby as much as He willed for me to benefit thereby. When a man from his Companions narrates some Hadīth to me, I ask him to swear upon it, when he swears, I believe him. And Abu Bakr narrated to me - and Abu Bakr told the truth; he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say:
"There is no man who commits a sin, then gets up and performs Tahārah (ritual purification), then performs prayer, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, except that Allah forgives him." Then, he recited this verse: {And those who, when they commit a shameful act or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 135]
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Abu Daoud & At-Termedhy & Ahmad & Ibn Majah & An-Nasa'i in Major Sunan] - [Sunan At-Termedhy - 406]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that no one commits a sin, then makes a perfect ablution, then gets up and offers two Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) with the intention of repenting of this sin, then asks Allah to forgive him, except that Allah will forgive him. Then, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) recited the verse in which Allah Almighty says: {And those who, when they commit a shameful act or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – who can forgive sins except Allah? – and they do not persist in what they did knowingly.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 135]