اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ .
O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship except You. You created me, and I am Your servant, and I am abiding by Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduka, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika mastata'tu, a'udhu bika min sharri ma sana'tu, aboo'u laka bi ni'matika 'alayya wa aboo'u bi dhanbi faghfir li fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunooba illa anta.
When to Read
This profound dua, known as Sayyid al-Istighfar (the Master of Forgiveness), is particularly recommended for recitation in the **morning after Fajr prayer** and in the **evening after Asr or Maghrib prayer**. Reciting it at these times provides a profound opportunity for daily introspection. As we go about our days, earning, spending, and interacting with wealth, we inevitably make choices that might fall short of Allah’s commands. This dua allows us to sincerely seek forgiveness for any errors – whether intentional or unintentional – related to our financial dealings, our generosity, or our pursuit of provision throughout the day or night. It's a daily reset, purifying our intentions and actions concerning our sustenance.
How to Read
When reciting this dua, ensure your heart is present and sincere. The essence of istighfar (seeking forgiveness) lies in genuine remorse and an intention to improve. 1. **Presence of Heart:** Understand the profound meaning of each phrase. Acknowledge Allah's Lordship, His creation of you, and your dependence on Him. 2. **Sincerity (Ikhlas):** Confess your sins and weaknesses, particularly reflecting on any shortcomings in how you've acquired, spent, or managed your wealth. Think about instances of extravagance, stinginess, unfair dealings, or neglecting the rights of others (like zakat). 3. **Hope and Awe:** Have firm conviction that Allah alone forgives sins, and be hopeful for His mercy while also feeling awe of His majesty. 4. **Repentance:** Combine the recitation with a genuine intention to rectify any financial missteps and to be more mindful of Islamic principles in your dealings with wealth moving forward. This includes returning rights to others if wealth was acquired unjustly, or fulfilling zakat and sadaqa obligations.
Virtues & Benefits
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said about Sayyid al-Istighfar: 'If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306) This dua offers immense benefits: * **Comprehensive Forgiveness:** It encompasses all types of sins, including those committed through our wealth – whether it's through neglect of Zakat, dishonest dealings, extravagance, stinginess, or any other financial transgression. By confessing 'my sins' generally, we bring all specific missteps to Allah's attention. * **Reaffirmation of Tawhid:** It begins by affirming Allah's absolute Lordship and uniqueness, strengthening our faith. * **Acknowledgement of Allah's Blessings:** We acknowledge His abundant blessings upon us, which include the wealth and sustenance He has provided. This deepens our gratitude and helps us reflect on how we use these blessings. * **Seeking Protection:** It seeks refuge from the evil of our actions, prompting us to be more conscious of our conduct in all aspects, including financial. * **Path to Paradise:** As highlighted in the Hadith, sincere recitation with conviction makes one eligible for Paradise, making it a powerful shield against the consequences of our errors, including those concerning wealth.
Source & Authentication
Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The most superior way of asking for forgiveness is: > **Arabic:** اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ . > > **Translation:** "O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship except You. You created me, and I am Your servant, and I am abiding by Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You." He added, 'If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.' — Sahih al-Bukhari 6306