عن علي قال: إني كنت رجلًا إذا سمعت من رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم حديثًا نفعني الله منه بما شاء أن ينفعني به، وإذا حدثني رجلٌ من أصحابه استحلفتُه، فإذا حلف لي صدَّقته، وإنه حدثني أبو بكر، وصدق أبو بكر، قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: (ما من رجلٍ يذنب ذنبًا، ثم يقوم فيتطهَّر، ثم يصلي، ثم يستغفر الله، إلا غفر الله له)، ثم قرأ هذه الآية: {والذين إذا فعلوا فاحشة أو ظلموا أنفسهم ذكروا الله فاستغفروا لذنوبهم}.
[صحيح] - [رواه أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي في الكبرى وابن ماجه]
المزيــد ...

‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) related: Indeed I am a man who, when I hear a Hadīth from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), Allah causes me to benefit from it as much as He wills for me to benefit from it. When a man among his Companions narrates some Hadīth to me, I ask him to swear upon it, when he swears, I trust him. And Abu Bakr related 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 stands for 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 – who can forgive sins except Allah? – and they do not persist in what they did knowingly.} [Surat Āl ‘Imrān: 135]
Sahih/Authentic. - [Abu Dawood]

Explanation

‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that whenever he heard a Prophetic Hadīth, Allah would make him benefit from it, and he would act upon what he heard from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Also, when any of the Companions related to him any Hadīth, he would make him swear, and if he swore, he would believe him. He did this out of caution. However, swearing is not a requirement for accepting a Hadīth. All the Companions were upright and trustworthy. Then, he related a Hadīth which Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated to him from the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), and he believed him without having to swear. The Hadīth says that if anyone, man or woman, commits a sin and then stands and performs ablution, and prays and seeks Allah's forgiveness for this sin, Allah will definitely forgive 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]. His words {And they do not persist in what they did} indicate that it is required for istighfār (seeking forgiveness) to be accepted that the person gives up the sin. Yet, if he engages in istighfār by his tongue while doing the sin, this is deemed persistence.

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Benefits from the Hadith

  1. The Hadīth points out the merit of istighfār (seeking forgiveness) and urges us to engage in it.
  2. One of the requirements for accepting istighfār is to give up the sin.
  3. It shows ‘Ali's merit and keenness on knowing and acting upon the Prophet's Hadīths.
  4. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to verify what they heard.
  5. Allah Almighty possesses vast forgiveness and accepts repentance and istighfār.