اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ، دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ، أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ، عَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
O Allah, forgive me my sin, all of it, the minor and the major, the first and the last, the apparent and the hidden.
Allahumma-ghfir li-dhanbi kullahu, diqqahu wa jillahu, awwalahu wa akhirahu, 'alaniyatahu wa sirrahu
When to Read
This comprehensive dua is particularly potent when recited after a specific transgression, but it is also a powerful general supplication for anyone seeking Allah's complete forgiveness. Recite it during times of sincere reflection, after congregational or individual prayers, or during the blessed hours like the last third of the night or after Jumu'ah.
How to Read
Recite this dua with utmost sincerity and a genuine sense of remorse. Raise your hands as you would in supplication, facing the Qiblah if possible. It is best to be in a state of Wudu. Pour your heart out to Allah, acknowledging your weakness and your complete reliance on His mercy. Remember that true repentance involves not only asking for forgiveness but also resolving not to repeat the sin.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encapsulates a request for the forgiveness of *all* sins, from the smallest to the largest, encompassing both past and present wrongdoings, and those done openly and in secret. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to his companions, highlighting its profound completeness. Seeking such all-encompassing forgiveness not only cleanses the soul but also restores one's inner peace and dignity, which can be shaken by transgression. By seeking Allah's forgiveness, we also seek His covering and protection, which can manifest as a restored sense of modesty and purity in our outward and inward state. Allah says, "And seek forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will let you enjoy provision for a specified term and will give every doer of bounty its bounty..." (Hud 11:3) This verse indicates that seeking forgiveness leads to blessings and a good life.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'By Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306) In another narration of Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ taught the companions: 'O people, repent to Allah, for I repent to Allah one hundred times a day.' (Sahih Muslim 270A) While this specific dua ('Allahumma-ghfir li-dhanbi kullahu...') is found as a direct supplication taught by the Prophet ﷺ in Sahih Muslim 93, the principle of seeking comprehensive forgiveness is deeply embedded in his Sunnah and the Quran. The extensive repetition of seeking forgiveness, as in the hadith mentioned, underscores its importance. The hadith where the Prophet ﷺ taught 'Allahumma-ghfir li-dhanbi kullahu...' (Sahih Muslim 93) directly addresses the multifaceted nature of sin and the need for comprehensive divine pardon.