I do body building to develop my physical strength, and my aim is jihad (fighting) for the sake of Allah.

1- Does praying for forgiveness give strength to the body? What are the times when we should ask Allah for forgiveness, and how many times should we ask?

2- I hope that you can tell me some du’as (supplications) or dhikrs (words of remembrance) for increasing strength.


Praise be to Allah.

You have done well by forming
this good intention for your exercise, for a good intention turns a habit
into worship. 

As for what you have asked
about, whether praying for forgiveness increases a person’s strength, the
answer is, yes. Allah, may He be exalted, tells us that His Prophet Hood
(peace be upon him) said to his people (interpretation of the meaning): 


“And O my people! Ask
forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the
sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away
as Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah).”

[Hood 11:52] 

Ibn al-Qayyim said in al-Wabil
al-Sayyib (p. 77), when listing the benefits of dhikr (remembrance of
Allah), including praying for forgiveness: 

Benefit no. 61: 

Dhikr gives a person strength
so that he can do with dhikr that which he cannot do without it. I saw
wonders in the strength of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah in walking, speech,
courage and writing. He used to write in one day what a scribe would write
in a week, or more. The troops saw his amazing strength in war. The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught his daughter Fatimah and
‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) to recite tasbeeh (glorification of
Allah) thirty-three times every night when they went to bed, and to recite
tahmeed (praises of Allah) thirty-three times, and to recite takbeer
(magnification of Allah) thirty-four times, when she asked him for a servant
and complained to him about the hardship of grinding corn, working and
serving (her family). He taught her this and said: “It is better for you
than a servant.” It was said: The one who persists in doing this will find
strength in his body that will make him independent of the need for a
servant. End quote. 

With regard to the times for
dhikr and the number of times it should be repeated, the believer should
remember Allah at all times and in all situations. Allah says
(interpretation of the meaning): 


“Those who remember Allah
(always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides.”

[Al ‘Imran 3:191]

The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) would remember Allah at all times. Narrated
by Muslim. 

So one should remember Allah a
great deal and pray for forgiveness. The more he does that, the better. 

Allah says (interpretation of
the meaning): 


“O you who believe! Remember
Allah with much remembrance.


And glorify His Praises morning
and afternoon [the early morning (Fajr) and ‘Asr prayers].”

[al-Ahzab 33:41, 42] 


“… and the men and the women
who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues. Allah has prepared
for them forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).”

[al-Ahzab 33:35]. 

Muslim (2702) narrated from al-Agharr
al-Muzani (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “I ask Allah for forgiveness one
hundred times a day.” 

And Abu Dawood (1516) narrated
that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We used to count when
the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said in
one sitting one hundred times: Rabb ighfir li wa tubb ‘alayya, innaka anta
al-tawab al-raheem (Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, for You are
the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful). Classed as saheeh by al-Albani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

And Allah knows best.