Musannaf Ibn Abi Shayba 1:23

Abbad ibn al-Awwam narrated to us, from al-Minhal, that Abu al-Aliyah saw a man performing ablution. When he finished, he said: "O Allah, make me among the repentant and make me among those who purify themselves." He [Abu al-Aliyah] said: "Purification with water is good, but they are those who purify themselves from sins."