Abu Umamah al-Baahili رضى الله عنه (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

“I never approached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during an obligatory prayer (and in another narration, it is stated: “at the end of an obligatory prayer”) or a voluntary prayer without hearing him say:

اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَخَطَايَايَ كُلَّهَا، اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْعِشْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَاهْدِنِي لِصَالِحِ الْأَعْمَالِ وَالْأَخْلَاقِ، فإِنَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي لِصَالِحِهَا وَلَا يَصْرِفُ سَيِّئَهَا إلَّا أَنْتَ.‏

‘O Allah, forgive me my sins and my mistakes, all of them. O Allah, restore (raise or revive) me, improve my situation, and guide me to the righteous deeds and character. Indeed that none guides to its righteousness nor averts its evil except You.’” [al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer lil-Tabarani (200/8, No. 7811). Classified as ‘Hasan’ (Good) by Sheikh al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami’ as-Saghir wa Ziyadatuh (1266)]

Most of the inhabitants of Paradise used to have good character in this worldly life. For this reason, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to make this du‘aa (supplication) even though he knew about the verse which Allah had revealed in the Noble Qur’an describing his character:

“And verily, you (O Muhammad ﷺ) are on an exalted standard of character.” [The Noble Qur’an, Surah Al-Qalam (The Pen), verse 68:4]

If Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was known for his exemplary character, frequently made this du‘aa in his prayers, shouldn’t we, as his followers, deserve to make this du‘aa more often in our prayers?

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was asked about that for which people are admitted into Paradise the most, so he said:

“Taqwa of Allah and good character.”

And he was asked about that for which people are admitted into the Fire the most, and he said:

“The mouth and the private parts.” [Jami’ at-Tirmidhi (2004)]

I pray that Allah guides us to adhere strictly to Al-Qur’an and As-Sunnah, to study them much as possible, and to avoid all practices that have no basis in the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. I pray that He protects us from being influenced by the Ahlul-Bid‘ah (the innovators) that are prevalent in our Ummah. I also pray that Allah increases us in beneficial knowledge, grants us enthusiasm in seeking it, and bestows upon us the true understanding of the pure teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Aameen.