Seeking Forgiveness: Tradition of the Prophets and the Righteous

The Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and the virtuous and
righteous people were the quickest of all to comply with the call of
Allaah The Almighty.
Our father Aadam )Adam( and our mother Hawwaa' )Eve(, may Allaah exalt
their mention:
They responded to the call of Allaah 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.
Allaah 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(:
When hefelt 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, Noohasked for the forgiveness of Allaah The Almighty, repenting
of what he said. Allaah 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 Allaah The Exalted had punished the disbelieving people
of Noohwith drowning and saved the believing people with Noohhe
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(:
Ibraaheemwho was the intimate friend of Allaah 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(:
Moosasays 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[ Healso 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:
The Companions of the Prophetnarrated that the Prophetused to seek the
forgiveness of Allaah 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 Prophetsaid:"By Allaah! I ask for forgiveness from Allaah The
Exalted and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a
day."]Al-Bukhaari[
Furthermore, Allaah The Almighty urges the Prophetto 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(:
Prophet Yoonuscalled 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(:
Daawoodsupplicated Allaah The Exalted as Allaah 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 Allaah[.{]Quran 38: 24[
Abu Bakr:
Abu Bakrthe best of this nation after the Prophetasked the Prophet"O
Messenger of Allaah, teach me an invocation with which I may invoke
Allaah in my prayers." The Prophetsaid:"Say, 'Allaahumma 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:
'Umarsaid to the Prophet"O Messenger of Allaah, ask forgiveness for me."
There are numerous righteous and devout people other than these, who
used to seek the forgiveness of Allaah The Almighty frequently;
repentance was their banner, their request for forgiveness was their
slogan, and they repeatedly turned to Allaah The Almighty.