سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. I bear witness that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance.
Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika, ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaik
When to Read
This dua is a beautiful way to conclude any gathering, especially one focused on seeking knowledge. Recite it as you are about to part ways, after a lecture, study circle, or even a casual discussion about Islamic topics. It's a way to ensure your time together has been accepted and to seek forgiveness for any shortcomings.
How to Read
Recite this once, with sincerity and a mindful heart, as the gathering is drawing to a close. It is a prayer seeking Allah's acceptance of the time spent and purification from any unintentional errors or vain talk that may have occurred. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this as the 'seal' of a gathering.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua acts as a purification for the gathering. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated that whoever utters this dua at the end of a gathering, it will be a seal (meaning, it will cover up any shortcomings or sins committed during that sitting). It's a profound way to leave a gathering with the hope that Allah has accepted the sincere efforts and overlooked any imperfections. This is particularly relevant for knowledge-seeking gatherings, as our efforts, though pure in intention, can be marred by human weakness.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'Whoever sits in a gathering and has much inarticulate speech therein and then says before he departs: Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You! I bear witness that there is no god but You; I seek Your forgiveness and turn to You in repentance. Then that which was in the gathering would be forgiven.' - Sunan Abi Dawud 4857 (Hasan)