Sahih Muslim Book - 49, Hadith - 6986

حَدَّثَنِى عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِى طَلْحَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِى عَمْرَةَ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِىِّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فِيمَا يَحْكِى عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ « أَذْنَبَ عَبْدٌ ذَنْبًا فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِى ذَنْبِى. فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِى ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ. ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِى ذَنْبِى. فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَبْدِى أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ. ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِى ذَنْبِى. فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِى ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ وَاعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ ». قَالَ عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى لاَ أَدْرِى أَقَالَ فِى الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ « اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ ».

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that in a Hadith Qudsi the Prophet (s.a.w) said, quoting the Lord, the Sublime and Majestic: "A man committed a sin and said: 'O Lord, forgive me.' Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: 'My slave has committed a sin, but he knew that he has a Lord Who forgives sin, and calls people to account for sin.' Then he sinned again and said: 'O Lord, forgive me.' Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: 'My slave has committed a sin, but he knew that he has a Lord Who forgives sin, and calls people to account for sin.' Then he sinned again and said: 'O Lord, forgive me.' Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said: 'My slave has committed a sin, but he knew that he has a Lord Who forgives sin, and calls people to account for sin. Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.'" 'Abdul-A'la said: "I do not know whether he said after the third or the fourth time: 'Do what you wish.'"