Say: La ilāha illallāhu wahdahu la sharīka lah, Allāhu akbar kabīra, wa al-hamdulillāhi kathīra, subhānallāhi Rabbi al-‘ālamīn, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billāhi al-‘azīz al-hakīm (There is no god but Allah, alone with n...

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Sa‘d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: A Bedouin came to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and said: Teach me words to say. He said: "Say: La ilāha illallāhu wahdahu la sharīka lah, Allāhu akbar kabīra, wa al-hamdulillāhi kathīra, subhānallāhi Rabbi al-‘ālamīn, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billāhi al-‘azīz al-hakīm (There is no god but Allah, alone with no partner. Allah is the Greatest with all greatness, and abundant praise is due to Allah. Allah, the Lord of the worlds, is exalted above imperfection. There is no might nor power except with Allah, the Mighty and the All-Wise)." The Bedouin said: Those words are for my Lord. But what is for me? Thereupon, he said: "Say: Allāhumma ighfirli, warhamni, wahdini, warzuqni. (O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, and give me provision)."

Authentic hadith - Narrated by Muslim

Explanation

A man from the Bedouin asked the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) to teach him a Dhikr (remembrance of Allah) to say. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Say: "There is no god but Allah, alone with no partner," starting with the testimony of monotheism, which means that no deity is truly worthy of worship except Allah. "Allah is the Greatest with all greatness," i.e., Allah is greater and more magnificent than everything. "And abundant praise is due to Allah," i.e., abundant praise is due to Allah for His attributes, acts, and countless favors. "Allah, the Lord of the worlds, is exalted above imperfection," i.e., He is exalted and far above deficiency. "There is no might nor power except with Allah, the Mighty and the All-Wise," i.e., there is no change from one state to another except through Allah, His assistance and guidance. The man said: Those words are for my Lord to remember and extoll Him, what supplication should I say for myself? So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Say: "O Allah forgive me" by erasing and concealing my sins. "And have mercy upon me" by conveying religious and worldly interests and benefits to me. "And guide me" to the best of states and to the straight path. "And give me provision" represented in lawful gains, health, and every kind of goodness and well-being.

Benefits from the Hadith

Encouraging the act of remembering Allah by proclaiming His oneness and His greatness and glorifying and praising Him.
It is recommended to remember Allah and praise Him before supplication.
It is recommended for one to supplicate Allah with the best and reported invocations, which combine all good things in the worldly life and the Hereafter, and he may supplicate as he wishes.
One should be keen on learning whatever could bring him benefit in this life and the Hereafter.
Encouraging the pursuit of forgiveness, mercy, and sustenance, which combine all goodness.
The Prophet's compassion and keenness to teach his Ummah what benefits them.
Mercy was mentioned after forgiveness to complete the purification process, as forgiveness refers to concealing and erasing sins besides being dragged away from Hellfire. In contrast, mercy refers to conveying good things and being admitted to Paradise, the supreme triumph.