Abu Hurairah (RA) reported from Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) that his Lord, the Exalted and Glorious, thus said. A servant committed a sin and he said: O Allah, forgive me my sins, and Allah (the Exalted and Glorious) said: My servant commited a sin and then he came to realise that he has a Lord Who forgives the sins and takes to account (the sinner) for the sin. He then again committed a sin and said: My Lord, forgive me my sin, and Allah, the Exalted and High, said: My servant committed a sin and then came to realise that he has a Lord Who would forgive his sin or would take (him) to account for the sin. He again committed a sin and said: My Lord, forgive me for my sin, and Allah (the Exalted and High) said: My servant has committed a sin and then came to realise that he has a Lord Who forgives the sins or takes (him) to account for sin. O servant, do what you like. I have granted you forgiveness. 'Abdul A'la said: I do not know whether he said thrice or four times to do "what you desire".

The hadith has been narrated on the authority of 'Abdul A'la bin Hammad with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Hurairah (RA) reported he heard Allah's Messenger ( صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم ) as saying that a servant committed a sin. The rest of the hadith is the same, but there is a slight variation of wording.