Sayyid al-Istighfar — The Master of Seeking Forgiveness
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 لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
Transliteration
Allahumma anta rabbi, la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduk, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika mastata't, a'udhu bika min sharri ma sana't, abu'u laka bini'matika 'alayy, wa abu'u laka bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa ant.
Translation
O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I am upon Your covenant and promise as much as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me, and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me — for none forgives sins but You.
What this dua means
Called 'the master of seeking forgiveness' because it gathers everything: Allah's lordship, your servitude, admission of His blessings and your sins — then the plea.
When to read it
Morning and evening, and any time you want a fresh start. Once a day is enough to make it a habit.
Virtue
The Prophet ﷺ said: whoever says it during the day with firm belief and dies that day will be among the people of Paradise; and whoever says it at night with firm belief and dies that night will be among the people of Paradise. (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)
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