In the profound realm of Islamic spirituality, the pursuit of forgiveness stands as a cornerstone. Recognizing our inherent imperfections, we turn to Allah, seeking His boundless mercy and pardon.
The essence of repentance is beautifully encapsulated in the poignant supplication:
Dua for Forgiveness:
Arabic:
اللهم أنت ربي، لا إله إلا أنت ، خلقتني وأنا عبدك، وأنا على عهدك ووعدك ما استطعت أعوذ بك من شر ما صنعت أبوء لك بنعمتك علي، وأبوء بذنبي، فاغفر لي فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، من قالها من النهار موقنا بها، فمات من يومه قبل أن يمسي، فهو من أهل الجنة، ومن قالها من الليل وهو موقن بها فمات قبل أن يصبح، فهو من أهل الجنة” ((رواه البخاري)). (1)
Shaddad bin Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul- Istighfar) is to say: ‘
( Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka, wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, a’udhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u laka bini’matika ‘alayya, wa abu’u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta. )
English Translation: (O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done.
I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon).’
He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah.”
Riyad as-Salihin 1875
This heartfelt plea captures the essence of repentance, acknowledging human fallibility while emphasizing the limitless mercy of Allah. In the pursuit of forgiveness, this dua serves as a sincere expression of remorse and a profound connection with the Divine.
Other Duas for Forgiveness:
Here are some of the top Islamic duas for forgiveness with their references, in both Arabic and English:
Dua for forgiveness from the Quran (Surah Al-A`raf, 7:143):
Arabic:
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَلِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الحِسَابُ
English:
“And say, ‘My Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day when the reckoning comes.'”
- Dua for forgiveness from the Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari, 5407):
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَبِيرًا، وَلَيْسَ مَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي غُفْرَانًا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
English:
“O Allah, I have wronged myself and there is none who can forgive sins except You. So forgive me with Your forgiveness and have mercy on me with Your mercy, for You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
- Dua for forgiveness from the supplications of Imam Ja`far al-Sadiq (as):
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ مَغْفِرَةٍ تَشْمُلُ جَمِيعَ ذُنُوبِي كَبِيرَهَا وَصَغِيرَهَا، وَقَدِيمَهَا وَحَدِيثَهَا، وَسِرَّهَا وَعَلَانِيَّتَهَا، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ مَغْفِرَةٍ تُخْرِجُنِي مِنْ النَّارِ، وَتُدْخِلُنِي بِهَا الجَنَّةَ، يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
English:
“O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness for every sin I have committed, big or small, old or new, secret or open. I ask You for forgiveness for every sin I have committed with my hands, my tongue, my eyes, my ears, my heart, or any other part of my body.
I ask You for forgiveness for every sin I have committed knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally. O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness for all my sins, so please forgive me, O Allah, the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.”
Conclusaion
In the tapestry of Islamic teachings, forgiveness emerges as a thread that weaves together the relationship between the Creator and His creation.
This article has explored the profound concept of seeking forgiveness in Islam, shedding light on the transformative power of sincere repentance through dua.
The Quranic verses and Hadiths discussed underscore the boundless mercy of Allah and the compassionate guidance provided by Prophet Muhammad SAW.