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 but You. You created me, and I am Your slave, and I am abiding by Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have committed. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, 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, abuu'u laka bini'matika 'alayya, wa abuu'u bidhanbi faghfirli fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.
When to Read
This profound dua, known as Sayyid al-Istighfar, is particularly encouraged to be recited in the early morning hours, after Fajr prayer and before sunrise. It’s also recommended to say it in the evening after Asr or Maghrib, before the sun sets. The Prophet ﷺ specifically mentioned these times, highlighting the blessing of beginning and ending your day with this sincere plea for forgiveness. You can also recite it anytime you feel the need to seek Allah's pardon or purify your heart.
How to Read
Approach this dua with a deeply reflective heart. Don't just rush through the words. As you utter each phrase, ponder its meaning: acknowledge Allah's Lordship, His creation of you, your servitude, and your commitment to His commands. Recognize His blessings upon you and humbly confess your shortcomings. The key is to truly feel what you are saying, allowing the words to resonate with sincere repentance and hope in Allah's boundless mercy. A firm faith in its words, as mentioned by the Prophet ﷺ, is crucial.
Virtues & Benefits
The virtues of reciting Sayyid al-Istighfar are immense, promising a pathway to Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'If somebody recites this supplication during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before evening, he will be among the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before morning, he will be among the people of Paradise.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306) This dua is a testament to sincere repentance, a shield against the consequences of our sins, and a means of drawing closer to Allah. It reminds us of His perfect attributes and our desperate need for His forgiveness, purifying our souls and strengthening our connection with our Creator.
Source & Authentication
Shaddad ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best supplication for seeking forgiveness is: '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, abuu'u laka bini'matika 'alayya, wa abuu'u bidhanbi faghfirli fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.' The Prophet (ﷺ) added: 'If somebody recites this supplication during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before evening, he will be among the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before morning, he will be among the people of Paradise.'