The Ruling on the Prayer of Repentance
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What is the ruling on the prayer of repentance, and what is the authenticity of the evidence reported regarding it?
The hadith regarding the prayer of repentance is weak, but it has corroborating narrations indicating that it has a basis, such as the hadith of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) when he performed wudu' like the wudu' of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed wudu' like my wudu' and then said: 'Whoever performs wudu' like my wudu' and then prays two rak'ahs without speaking to himself in them, Allah will forgive him his previous sins.'" This hadith is a corroborating narration indicating that if a person performs wudu' and completes it thoroughly, then prays two rak'ahs, he will be forgiven for his previous sins. It is not called the prayer of repentance, but rather it is the sunnah of wudu', though repentance is achieved through it.
The hadith regarding the prayer of repentance is weak, but it has corroborating narrations indicating that it has a basis, such as the hadith of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) when he performed wudu' like the wudu' of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed wudu' like my wudu' and then said: 'Whoever performs wudu' like my wudu' and then prays two rak'ahs without speaking to himself in them, Allah will forgive him his previous sins.'" This hadith is a corroborating narration indicating that if a person performs wudu' and completes it thoroughly, then prays two rak'ahs, he will be forgiven for his previous sins. It is not called the prayer of repentance, but rather it is the sunnah of wudu', though repentance is achieved through it.