Examining the Atsar of Asking Forgiveness 12,000 Times a Day

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Imam Abu Nu’aym Ahmad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Aswbahani (r.a.) reported in his Hilyat al-Awliya’, through Imam Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Hanbal (r.a.), from Sayyidina ‘Ikrimah ibn Abi Jahl ‘Amr (r.a.), that Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) said, “Verily, I turn to Allah (s.w.t.) asking Forgiveness and repenting to Him 12,000 times every day.”

This atsar is reported, by Imam Abu Nu’aym (r.a.), in this manner, in his Hilyat al-Awliya’, and is mentioned by Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn ‘Ali ibn Hajr al-‘Asqalani (r.a.), in his Iswabah, as being reported by Shaykh Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Sa‘d (r.a.).  Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafizh ibn ‘Abd al-Lathif al-Miswri (r.a.) declared this atsar swahih.  A review of the chain will attest to such a grading.

Shaykh Ibrahim ibn Ziyad (r.a.) was declared tsiqah, impeccably trustworthy, by Imam Yahya ibn Ma’in (r.a.), Imam Abu Zura’ah ‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Abd al-Karim ar-Razi (r.a.) and others.  Imam Ahmad (r.a.) said, “There is nothing wrong with him.”  Next in the chain is Imam Isma’il ibn ‘Ulayyah (r.a.).  He was a hafizh of his time.  Imam Abu Bistham Shu’bah ibn al-Hajjaj al-‘Ataki (r.a.) called him, “the master of the muhadditsin.”  Imam ibn Hajr (r.a.) said of him, “Tsiqah, a specialist of ahadits.”

The next in the chain is Shaykh Khalid ibn Mihran Abu al Manazil al-Hatstsa’ (r.a.).  Imam ibn Ma’in (r.a.), Imam Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman Ahmad ibn Shu’ayb an-Nasa’i (r.a.) and Imam Abu al-Hasan Ahmad al-‘Ijli (r.a.) all deemed him tsiqah.  Imam Ahmad (r.a.) said of him, “Established!”  However, Imam Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Idris ar-Razi (r.a.) said of him, “Record his ahadits, although there is no support with him.”  The majority deem him tsiqah.  Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ahmad adz-Dzahabi (r.a.) said, in his Mizan, “And he was tsiqah, awe-inspiring, with many ahadits.  He reported this from ‘Ikrimah (r.a.).  He is the well known Barbari mufassir, student of the swahabah, and former servant of ibn ‘Abbas (r.a.).  There is agreement of all Muslim scholars regarding his impeccable trustworthiness, righteousness, and fiqh.  This chain is swahih as you can see.”

On another note, it is not recorded that the Prophet (s.a.w.) sought istighfar this many times a day.  In fact, he said he only did this seventy, and in another report, a hundred times in a day.  Furthermore, Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah (r.a.) is specifying a number to do it, a definite bid’ah but a bid’ah al-hasanah.