I was present with Ali when an animal was brought for him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup, he said, "In the name of Allah." When he settled upon its back, he said, "Praise be to Allah." Then he recited, "Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have done it ourselves, and indeed to our Lord we will return" [Zukhruf 43:13–14].Then he said, "Praise be to Allah" three times, then he said, "Allah is the Greatest" three times, then he said, "Glory be to You, I have indeed wronged myself, so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You."Then he laughed, and someone asked, "Commander of the Believers, what made you laugh?"He replied, "I saw the Prophet ﷺ do as I have done, then he laughed, so I asked, 'Messenger of Allah, what made you laugh?' He said, 'Your Lord marvels at His servant when he says, "Forgive me my sins," knowing that none forgives sins besides Me.'"
حدثنا مسدد حدثنا أبو الأحوص حدثنا أبو إسحق الهمداني
شهدت عليا رضي الله عنه وأتي بدابة ليركبها فلما وضع رجله في الركاب قال بسم الله فلما استوى على ظهرها قال الحمد لله ثم قال {سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين وإنا إلى ربنا لمنقلبون} ثم قال الحمد لله ثلاث مرات ثم قال الله أكبر ثلاث مرات ثم قال سبحانك إني ظلمت نفسي فاغفر لي فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت ثم ضحك فقيل يا أمير المؤمنين من أي شيء ضحكت قال رأيت النبي ﷺ فعل كما فعلت ثم ضحك فقلت يا رسول الله من أي شيء ضحكت قال إن ربك يعجب من عبده إذا قال اغفر لي ذنوبي يعلم أنه لا يغفر الذنوب غيري
[Sahih] Recorded by Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications, Chapter on What Is Said When Mounting an Animal, no. 3446, from the hadith of Abu Ahwas through this same chain. He said, "Hasan sahih." Ibn Hibban graded it sahih, no. 2380, 2381, as did Hakim, who said it meets the conditions of Muslim, 2/98-99, and Dhahabi agreed with him. Abu Ishaq stated explicitly that he heard it directly, as recorded by Bayhaqi, 5/252.