Prophet Adam
Repentance and Mercy
Adam and Hawwa did not blame Iblis or argue. They turned in regret to their Lord, and Allah taught Adam the words that would become the prototype of all human repentance: 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.' (Qur'an 7:23) Allah accepted their repentance. The contrast is sharp: Iblis sinned and blamed Allah; Adam sinned and blamed himself. That is why Iblis was cast away and Adam was raised in rank.
Qur'an 7:23قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Qala rabbana zalamna anfusana, wa in lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna la-nakunanna min al-khasirin.
They said: 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.'
The prototype prayer of human repentance — recited by every believer in distress, often together with the dua of Yunus (21:87).
Qur'an 2:37فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Fa-talaqqa Adamu min rabbihi kalimatin fa-taba 'alayh, innahu huwa t-Tawwabu r-Rahim.
Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.
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Prophet Yunus
Three Layers of Darkness
From inside the belly of the fish, Yunus called upon Allah. The Qur'an records his prayer with breath-taking precision: 'And he called out within the layers of darkness: There is no god but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I was of the wrongdoers.' (Qur'an 21:87). Three layers of darkness — the darkness of the sea, the darkness of the night, the darkness of the fish's belly. And the prayer itself has three parts: declare Allah's oneness, glorify Him, confess one's own wrongdoing. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'No Muslim ever supplicates with these words for any matter but that Allah answers him.' (Tirmidhi 3505).
Qur'an 21:87فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Fa-nada fi z-zulumati an la ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu min az-zalimin.
And he called out within the layers of darkness: 'There is no god but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I was of the wrongdoers.'
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3505دَعْوَةُ ذِي النُّونِ إِذْ دَعَا وَهُوَ فِي بَطْنِ الْحُوتِ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَدْعُ بِهَا رَجُلٌ مُسْلِمٌ فِي شَيْءٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ لَهُ
Da'watu Dhi-n-Nun idh da'a wa huwa fi batni-l-hut: La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu min az-zalimin. Fa-innahu lam yad'u biha rajulun muslimun fi shay'in qattu illa-stajaba-llahu lah.
The supplication of Dhun-Nun when he called from within the belly of the fish — 'There is no god but You; glory be to You; I was of the wrongdoers.' No Muslim ever supplicates with it for any matter but that Allah answers him.
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Prophet Musa
The Killing in Egypt
Musa grew into a strong young man. One day he saw an Egyptian fighting an Israelite. He struck the Egyptian once — and the man died. Musa said immediately: 'This is from the work of Satan. Indeed, he is a manifest, misleading enemy. My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.' (Qur'an 28:15-16) The next day he saw the same Israelite fighting again, and angrily reproached him. The news of the killing spread. A man came running from across the city and said: 'O Musa, indeed the chiefs are conferring about you to kill you. So leave. Indeed, I am to you of the sincere advisors.' (Qur'an 28:20)
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