Forgiveness
Sayyid al-Istighfar (the master of seeking forgiveness)
Sayyid al-Istighfar is the master of seeking forgiveness, the most complete way the Prophet ﷺ taught to ask Allah for pardon. You affirm Allah as your only Lord, acknowledge His favours and your own sin, then ask to be forgiven. Whoever says it with conviction in the morning and dies that day enters Paradise.
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Allāhumma anta rabbī lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa ana ʿabduka, wa ana ʿalā ʿahdika wa waʿdika mā-staṭaʿtu, aʿūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣanaʿtu, abū'u laka bi-niʿmatika ʿalayya, wa abū'u bi-dhanbī fa-ghfir lī, fa-innahu lā yaghfiru-dh-dhunūba illā anta
O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no deity but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I keep Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.
Authenticity: Sahih (authentic), reported by al-Bukhari (6306).
Download image to shareWhen to say it
Morning and evening. Whoever says it in the morning with conviction and dies that day enters Paradise.
How often
Once in the morning after Fajr and once in the evening.
Frequently asked
What is Sayyid al-Istighfar?
It is the best formula of seeking forgiveness taught by the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6306. Whoever says it during the day with certainty and dies before evening is among the people of Paradise, and likewise whoever says it at night.
When should it be recited?
In the morning after Fajr and in the evening, ideally as a fixed part of your daily adhkar so you never miss it.