Forgiveness
Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh (seeking forgiveness and turning back)
This is the fuller form of istighfar the Prophet ﷺ repeated more than seventy times a day. Beyond asking to be forgiven, the closing words 'wa atubu ilayh' add the intention to actually turn back to Allah, which is the heart of true repentance. Say it freely throughout your day, in a queue, in traffic, whenever a fault or a heedless moment crosses your mind.
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullāha wa atūbu ilayh
I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I turn to Him in repentance.
Authenticity: The wording is authentic (sahih): al-Bukhari (6307) records that the Prophet ﷺ said he sought Allah's forgiveness and turned to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.
Download image to shareWhen to say it
Throughout the day, and after sins or moments of heedlessness. It is also a beautiful phrase to keep on the tongue as constant dhikr.
How often
The Prophet ﷺ said it more than seventy times a day; take that as an example to aim at, not a fixed cap. There is no set limit.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between astaghfirullah and astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh?
Both seek Allah's forgiveness. The shorter astaghfirullah simply asks to be forgiven, while adding 'wa atubu ilayh' (and I turn to Him in repentance) states your intention to actually return to Allah, which is the essence of tawba. Both are authentic; the fuller form is reported from the Prophet ﷺ in al-Bukhari 6307.
How many times a day should I say it?
There is no fixed cap. The Prophet ﷺ said he sought Allah's forgiveness and turned to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day (al-Bukhari 6307), and in another narration a hundred times (Muslim 2702). Aim for that spirit of constant istighfar rather than a strict number.