Anas reported: A bedouin came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, teach me what is good.” The Prophet took him by the hand and he said, “Say: Glory be to Allah, all praise is due to Allah, there is no God but Allah, and Allah is the greatest.” The bedouin committed to what was in his hand and he went on his way. He reflected upon it and then returned. The Prophet smiled and said, “One in need has reflected and came back.” The bedouin said, “O Messenger of Allah, glory be to Allah, all praise is due to Allah, there is no God but Allah, and Allah is the greatest, these words are for Allah. What is for me?” The Prophet said, “O bedouin, when you say glory be to Allah, Allah says: He is truthful. When you say all praise is due to Allah, Allah says: He is truthful. When you say there is no God but Allah, Allah says: He is truthful. When you say Allah is the greatest, Allah says: He is truthful. When you ask Allah to forgive you, Allah says: I have done so. When you ask Allah to have mercy upon you, Allah says: I have done so. When you ask Allah to provide for you, Allah says: I have done so.” The bedouin committed himself to the seven sayings in his hand, then he returned on his way.
Source: Shu’ab al-Imān 590
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ جَاءَ أَعْرَابِيٌّ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي خَيْرًا فَأَخَذَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ قَالَ فَعَقَدَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ عَلَى يَدِهِ وَمَضَى فَتَفَكَّرَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَتَبَسَّمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ تَفَكَّرَ الْبَائِسُ فَجَاءَ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَلا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ هَذَا لِلَّهِ فَمَا لِي فَقَالَ لَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَا أَعْرَابِيُّ إِذَا قُلْتَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ صَدَقْتَ وَإِذَا قُلْتَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ قَالَ اللَّهُ صَدَقْتَ وَإِذَا قُلْتَ لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ قَالَ اللَّهُ صَدَقْتَ وَإِذَا قُلْتَ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ قَالَ اللَّهُ صَدَقْتَ وَإِذَا قُلْتَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي قَالَ اللَّهُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ وَإِذَا قُلْتَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي قَالَ اللَّهُ فَعَلْتُ وَإِذَا قُلْتَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي قَالَ اللَّهُ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ قَالَ فَعَقَدَ الأَعْرَابِيُّ عَلَى سَبْعٍ فِي يَدِهِ ثُمَّ وَلَّى
590 شعب الإيمان للبيهقي العاشر من شعب الإيمان
