حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ‏:‏ شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا، أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ، قَالَ‏:‏ بِسْمِ اللهِ، فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا، قَالَ‏:‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ‏:‏ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ‏:‏ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلاثًا، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاثًا، سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ، ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ‏:‏ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ، فَقُلْتُ‏:‏ مِنْ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ، إِذَا قَالَ‏:‏ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي، إِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرُكَ‏.‏‏

"I was present when 'Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) had an animal brought for him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup, he said: “In the Name of Allah . (Al-Qur'an;43:13-14)Then he said: “Praise be to Allah,” three times, and: “Allah is Supremely Great,” three times, then: “Glory be to You! I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for no one forgives sins but You!” Then he laughed, so I said to him: “What has made you laugh, O Commander of the Believers?” He said: “I saw Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) do just as I did now, after which he laughed, so I said: "What has made you laugh, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied: ‘Your Lord surely marvels at His servant when he says: “My Lord, forgive me my sins, knowing that no one but He forgives sins'!”