Is it prescribed for the khateeb to say “Aqoolu qawli haadha wa astaghfir-Allaah (I say these words of mine and I ask Allah for forgiveness)?
Question

                At the end of the Friday khutbah the khateeb says, “Aqoolu qawli haadha wa astaghfir-Allaah (I say these words of mine and I ask Allah for forgiveness). Is there any basis for this in Islam? Is there anything wrong with that? We prayed in one of the mosques and at the end of the khutbah the khateeb said, “I say these words of mine and I ask Allah for forgiveness for me and you and for all the Muslims.” When the prayer was over, one of the congregation of the mosque objected to that and said: “This is an innovation that is said in the khutbah.” Then he said: “It is not only your words, you quoted Qur’aanic verses and hadeeths, and the words of the Salaf, so how could you say that these are your words?”.
Praise be to Allah.
      There is nothing wrong with the khateeb saying at the end 
      of his speech, “Aqoolu haadha wa astaghfir-Allaah (I say this and I ask 
      Allah for forgiveness)” or “Aqoolu qawli haadha wa astaghfir-Allaah (I say 
      these words of mine and I ask Allah for forgiveness)”, whether this is the 
      first or second Friday khutbah or any other kind of speech. These are 
      words that are narrated from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be 
      upon him) and from the khateebs among his Companions (may Allah be pleased 
      with them). 

    Ibn Hibbaan (3828) narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be 
    pleased with him) that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon 
    him) gave a speech on the day of the conquest of Makkah. He praised and 
    glorified Allah then he said: “To proceed: O people, Allah has taken away 
    from you the pride in ancestry of Jaahiliyyah. O people, people are of two 
    types, the righteous and pious one who is dear to his Lord and the wretched 
    evildoer who is worthless before his Lord.” Then he recited the verse 
    (interpretation of the meaning): “O mankind! We have created you from a 
    male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know 
    one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allaah is that 
    (believer) who has At‑Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqoon (the pious. See 
    V.2:2)]. Verily, Allaah is All‑Knowing, All‑Aware” [al-Hujuraat 49:13]. 
    Then he said: “Aqoolu haadha wa astaghfir-Allaah (I say this and I ask Allah 
    for forgiveness).” 

    This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shu’ayb al-Arna’oot in 
    his Tahqeeq, and by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 
    2803. The biographers narrated that Thaabit ibn Qays ibn Shammaas, the 
    khateeb of the Ansaar (may Allah be pleased with him) said it in the 
    presence of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). Ibn 
    Ishaaq said in the report of the delegation of Banu Tameem and their 
    boasting in front of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah upon him): 
    The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah upon him) said to 
    Thaabit ibn Qays ibn al-Shammaas, the brother of Banu al-Haarith ibn al-Khazraj: 
    Get up and answer the man’s speech. Thaabit got up and said: Praise be to 
    Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and established His rule 
    therein, and His knowledge encompasses His Throne; nothing exists but by His 
    bounty. By His power He made us kings and chose the best of His creation as 
    a Messenger, who is the most honourable in lineage, the most sincere in 
    speech, and the noblest in ancestry, and sent down to him His Book and 
    entrusted him (to guide) His creation. He was Allah's choice from among the 
    worlds. Then He summoned men to believe in him, and the emigrants (Muhaajireen) 
    from his people and his kinsmen believed in Allah's Messenger; the most 
    honourable of men in lineage, the highest in dignity, and the best in deeds. 
    The first of creation to answer and respond to Allah when the Messenger 
    called them were ourselves. We are Allah's helpers and the assistants of His 
    Messenger, and we will fight men until they believe in Allah. He who 
    believes in Allah and His Messenger has protected his life and property from 
    us; and he who disbelieves we will fight for the sake of Allah unceasingly 
    and killing him will be a small matter to us. These are my words and I seek 
    Allah's forgiveness for myself and the believers, both men and women. Peace 
    be upon you.

    End quote from al-Seerah al-Nabawiyyah by Ibn Hishaam, 
    2/562; al-Seerah by Ibn Katheer, 4/79. 

    These words were also narrated from Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Ali 
    (may Allah be pleased with them) in their khutbahs, and some contemporary 
    scholars use them in their khutbahs such as Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah 
    have mercy on him). 

    As for the objection to the khateeb mentioning things that 
    are not his own words, such as verses, hadeeths and reports, this objection 
    is not valid, because what these words refer to is everything that the 
    khateeb said in his khutbah, even the verses, hadeeths and reports that the 
    khateeb quoted. 

    The point is that saying these words is permissible and there 
    is nothing wrong with it, and there is no justification for objecting to 
    it. 

    We ask Allah to help us to understand His religion properly. 

    And Allah knows best.