اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي وَجَهْلِي وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي جِدِّي وَهَزْلِي وَخَطَئِي وَعَمْدِي وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي
O Allah, forgive my errors, my ignorance, my extravagance in my affairs, and what You are better aware of than I. O Allah, forgive my serious mistakes and my jokes, my unintentional mistakes and my deliberate ones, and all these are with me.
Allahumma-ghfir li khati'ati, wa jahli, wa israfi fi amri, wa ma anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahumma-ghfir li jiddi, wa hazli, wa khat'i, wa 'amdi, wa kullu dhalika 'indi.
When to Read
This powerful dua is a general plea for forgiveness, making it suitable for any moment you wish to turn to Allah with regret and hope. You can recite it daily as part of your morning and evening remembrances, after each of your five daily prayers, or during the blessed last third of the night when supplications are particularly accepted. It's especially poignant when you reflect on moments you might have fallen short, whether by overlooking a duty or by speaking carelessly.
How to Read
When you recite this profound prayer, let your heart be present with its meanings. Reflect on the breadth of your shortcomings: the mistakes you made out of **ignorance (جهلي)** – perhaps not knowing a specific Islamic duty or how to perform it perfectly; your **extravagance in affairs (إسرافي في أمري)** – maybe spending too much time on worldly matters, thereby neglecting a spiritual obligation; and critically, the sins **Allah knows better than you (وما أنت أعلم به مني)** – the omissions you've forgotten, or those you didn't even realize were shortcomings. Recite with humility, acknowledging that you are seeking forgiveness for everything, from the serious to the seemingly minor, from the intentional to the accidental. Your sincere belief in Allah's boundless mercy is key.
Virtues & Benefits
The virtues of this comprehensive dua are immense: * **Embraces All Forms of Sins:** This dua is remarkably inclusive, covering not just sins of commission but also **sins of omission**, particularly through phrases like 'my ignorance' and 'what You are better aware of than I.' It's a recognition that we often fall short by neglecting duties due to oversight, lack of knowledge, or simply forgetfulness. * **Prophetic Guidance:** The very fact that our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regularly made this supplication (Sahih al-Bukhari 6399, Sahih Muslim 2719) imbues it with immense barakah and authenticity. Following his example in seeking forgiveness is a path to drawing closer to Allah. * **Cultivates Humility:** By acknowledging our errors, ignorance, extravagance, and both serious and jesting mistakes, this dua nurtures a deep sense of humility and constant reliance on Allah's forgiveness. It reminds us that no matter how hard we try, we are imperfect beings in constant need of our Creator. * **Spiritual Purification:** Regular recitation with reflection serves as a continuous spiritual cleansing. It helps to purify the heart from the weight of sins, known and unknown, offering peace and tranquility to the believer.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari: The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate (with this dua): "O Allah, forgive my errors, my ignorance, my extravagance in my affairs, and what You are better aware of than I. O Allah, forgive my serious mistakes and my jokes, my unintentional mistakes and my deliberate ones, and all these are with me." (Sahih al-Bukhari 6399)