Question
What is the authenticity of the following narration?
ما من عبد يقول حين رد الله إليه روحه: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير، إلا غفر الله له ذنوبه ولو كانت مثل زبد البحر
Translation
“Whoever reads the following du’a upon awakening, Allah will forgive his sins, even if it be like the foam of the ocean,
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay in qadir”
Answer
Imam Ibnus Sunni (rahimahullah) and Imam Harith ibn Abi Usamah (rahimahullah) have recorded this narration.
(‘Amalul Yawmi Wal Laylah, Hadith: 10, Bughyatul Bahith, Hadith 1054)
However Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has declared both of these chains of narrators as extremely weak.
(Nataijul Afkar, vol. 1, pg. 114/115)
The following narration is slightly different, but reliable:
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whomsoever says the following when retiring to bed, Allah will forgive his sins even if it be like the foam of the ocean”
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay in qadir, La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, Subhanallahi wal hamdulillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar
(Sahih Ibn Hibban; Al Ihsan, Hadith: 5528)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar