Hadith:
Abu Hurairah (RadiyAllahu Anhu) reported: Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) said:
“Whoever sits in a gathering and indulges in useless talk and before getting up supplicates:
“Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, ashhadu an la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaika”
(O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You. I testify that there is no true god except You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance),
he will be forgiven for (the sins he may have intentionally or unintentionally committed) in that assembly.”
[At-Tirmidhi]
COMMENTARY:
A senseless, boisterous talk, not related to the life to come, is unprofitable and warrants deprecation. But since it is a small sin, it may be pardoned if one sincerely repents of it. Yet, it cannot be classified under the head of major sins and human-right violations which are unpardonable. Scholars unanimously agree that those sins which can be forgiven upon sincerely reciting the above-mentioned supplication are minor sins which relate to the violation of Allah’s Rights, as evidenced by other Ahadith.