All those who were with the prophets and messengers (pbut), used this supplication during every confrontation between truth and falsehood:

ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

{Our Lord, forgive us our sins and the excess [committed] in our affairs and plant firmly our feet and give us victory over the disbelieving people.”}

Forgiveness of sins is a desire of every human being.

Sayida Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (saws) used to pray at night for such a long time that his feet used to crack. So she asked him: “O Allah’s Messenger, why do you do this since Allah has forgiven you of your faults of the past and those to follow?” He said:

“Shouldn’t I love to be a thankful slave (of Allah)?”[1]

The thank includes seeking forgiveness, why? Because no matter what you do, you will not be able to fulfill Allah (swt)’s right of thanksgiving for one blessing that He bestowed upon you, so how about you if you disobey Him?! So we always need forgiveness.

وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا {and plant firmly our feet}: Meaning, do not make us weaken so we retreat and flee the battle of truth in front of falsehood. And:

وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ {give us victory over the disbelieving people.”}.

[1] Sahih Al-Bukhari: Book of Quran Interpretation, Chapter of Surah Al-Fatih, Hadith No. 4557.