Q 2: Is it permissible to say " I seek Allah's Forgiveness as much as the number of His Creation"?

A: It is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him), as far as we know, used to say, Glorified be Allah as much as the number of His creation. It was related by Muslim in his Sahih (authentic book of Hadith) from Ibn `Abbas on the authority of Juwayriyah That the Prophet (peace be upon him) came out from (her apartment) in the morning after offering Subh (morning) Prayer as she was in her place of worship. He then came back in the forenoon and she was still sitting. He (peace be upon him) said, "You have been in the same condition since I left you?" She said, "Yes." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "I recited four words three times after I left you, and if these words are to be weighed against what you have recited since morning they would equal them (in reward): Glorified be Allah and Praise is due to Him as many as the number of His Creation, and as much as the pleasure of His Self, and as much as the weight of His Throne, and as many as the count of His Words. In another narration by Muslim also on the authority of Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Glorified be Allah and Praise is due to Him as many as the number of His Creation, and as much as the pleasure of His Self, and as much as the weight of His Throne, and as many as the count of His Words. As for Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from Allah), it is authentically reported that he (peace be upon him) used to recite a lot of Istighfar, and that he used to do this a hundred times a day. Many Ayahs (Part No. 24; Page No. 175) and Hadith have been mentioned encouraging Istighfar and clarifying the virtue of those who perform Istighfar, for Allah (Exalted be He) says, ...and those who pray and beg Allâh’s Pardon in the last hours of the night. He (Exalted be He) also says, Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed Moreover, it is authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the Hadith narrated on the authority of Shaddad ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, The most superior of Istighfar is to say "O Allah! You are my Lord; there is no god but You, You have created me, and I am Your Servant, and I am adhering to Your Covenant and Promise as much as I can; I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done: I admit Your Grace upon me, and admit my sin; so pardon me, for no one pardons sins but You." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever recites it during a day with firm belief in it, and dies on that same day before evening, will be from the occupants of Paradise; and whoever recites it at night with firm belief in it, and dies before morning, will be from the occupants of Paradise." Related by Al-Bukhari in his Sahih, also Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'y and Imam Ahmad related the same.Therefore every male and female Muslim should be keen not to miss this (Part No. 24; Page No. 176) great virtue and reward; they should confine themselves to whatever is mentioned by Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him).As for the wording mentioned in the question, there is no origin for it; therefore, it is better to avoid it, for both Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah) and Istighfar are acts or worship that are not to be observed except according to Allah's Guidance.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.