What is meant by the Hadith: "Whoever seeks forgiveness for believing men and believing women, a good deed will be written for him for every believing man," and is it to be taken literally?

There is no authentic hadith that establishes a specific virtue for seeking forgiveness for believing men and women. The narrations reported in this regard are weak or denounced due to their weak chains of transmission and the exaggerated rewards mentioned in their texts. Nevertheless, seeking forgiveness for believing men and women is desirable and legislated in the Quran and Sunnah. The Prophets did it, and Allah enjoined the believers to do it, because it fosters affection and brings forgiveness.