أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides Whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining, and I turn to Him in repentance.
Astaghfirullah alladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum wa atubu ilaih
When to Read
This powerful supplication is recommended to be recited three times immediately after concluding the obligatory Dhuhr prayer. After you finish your tasleem (saying 'Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah' to your right and left), take a moment before you stand up or engage in other activities to make this dua. It's a beautiful way to transition from the worship of the prayer into seeking Allah's grace and pardon.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a hopeful heart. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to say it three times. Focus on the meaning: acknowledging Allah's absolute sovereignty, His eternal life, and His sustaining presence, while actively turning back to Him in repentance for any shortcomings. Maintain a state of humility and awareness of your dependence on Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
This specific dua carries immense virtue. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned that whoever recites this dua after completing an obligatory prayer, Allah will forgive his sins even if they are as abundant as the foam of the sea. This emphasizes the immense mercy of Allah and the great reward for remembering Him and seeking His forgiveness right after fulfilling a pillar of our faith. It's a practice that washes away our spiritual impurities and strengthens our connection with our Creator.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'Whoever says Astaghfirullah alladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum wa atubu ilaih (I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides Whom there is no god, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining, and I turn to Him in repentance), Allah will forgive his sins even if he has fled from the battlefield.' (Sunan Abi Dawud 1517, graded Hasan by some scholars, and similar narration in Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3577, graded Sahih). The 'fled from the battlefield' part is used to signify the magnitude of the sins forgiven, as fleeing from battle is a major sin.