Chapter on Supplications at the Time of Mounting

It is narrated from al-Asbagh ibn Nubata that he said: "I held the stirrup for Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام as he intended to mount. He raised his head and smiled. I said: 'O Amir al-Mu'minin, I saw you raise your head and smile.' Imam عليه السلام replied: 'Yes, O Asbagh. I held the stirrup for the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings of Allah سبحانه وتعالى be upon him and his family) just as you held it for me. He raised his head to the sky and smiled. I asked him just as you asked me, and I will tell you as he told me. I held the stirrup of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings of Allah سبحانه وتعالى be upon him and his family) as he was about to mount al-Shahba (his mount). He raised his head toward the sky and smiled. I said, "O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, you raised your head toward the sky and smiled." Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم replied: "O Ali, whenever anyone mounts something Allah سبحانه وتعالى has blessed them with and then recites Ayat al-Sukhrah (the verse of subjugation: Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:13-14) and says; 'Astaghfirullah al-ladhi la ilaha illa Huwa al-Hayy al-Qayyum, wa atubu ilayh. Allahumma ighfir li dhunubi fa innahu la yaghfiru al-dhunuba illa Ant.' ‘O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, I seek forgiveness from You, the One besides whom there is no deity, the Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to You. O Allah سبحانه وتعالى, forgive my sins, for no one forgives sins except You’ Except that the Noble and Generous Lord عز وجل says: 'O My angels, My servant knows that none forgives sins but Me. Bear witness that I have forgiven their sins.'""