It has been related that the Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn...

It has been related that the Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn Abdullah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) would ask forgiveness 70 times during the Salat al-Witr.[^6] Imam Ja*`*far ibn Muhammad as- adiq (peace be upon him) has said: “Whosoever recites the following in the Salat al-Witr 70 times and continues to do so for one entire year will be counted by Allah as a Mustaghfirin bil ashar or one who used to ask forgiveness during the night time and will make Jannah Wajib upon that person.”[^7] أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللٌّهَ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ “I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.” In another hadith it has been mentioned that, “Whosoever says the following 100 times at the end of his Qunut and continues to do so for fourty nights will be counted as a Mustaghfirin bil ashar or one who used to ask forgiveness during the night time.

[^8] أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللٌّهَ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ “I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.” The Prophet of Islam Muhammad ibn `Abdullah (blessings of Allah be upon him and his family) used to ask for forgiveness 70 times in the Qunut of Salat al-Witr followed by reciting the below line seven times: هٌذَا مَقٌامُ الْعٌائِذِ بِكَ مِنَ النٌّارِ “This is the station of the person who seeks refuge with You from the Hell Fire.” [^9] The method of asking forgiveness as taught to us by Amir al-Mo’minin `Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) in the night as is follows: Recite the following 70 times: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللٌّهَ رَبِّي وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ “I seek repentance from Allah, my Lord and to Him I turn back.” Followed by reciting the following seven times: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللٌّهَ الَّذِي لاٌ إِلٌهَ إِلاٌّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيهِ “I seek repentance from Allah the One whom there is no god except Him, the Living and Self-Subsisting and to Him I turn back.” [^10] One of the most important acts in the Qunut of the Salat al-Witr is supplication for forty believers (men or women) amongst one’s family, friends, those who have asked to be prayed for, the deceased and the Shi`a of Amir Al-Mo’minin `Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him).