اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ، دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ، أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ، عَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
O Allah, forgive me all my sins, the small and the great, the first and the last, the apparent and the hidden.
Allahummaghfir li dambi kullahu, diqqahu wa jillahu, awwalahu wa akhirahu, 'alaniyatahu wa sirrahu
When to Read
This powerful supplication is particularly potent during the blessed hours of Tahajjud, the night prayer. As you stand before Allah in the quiet of the night, when the world is asleep, is the perfect time to humbly ask for His forgiveness for every sin, great or small, known or unknown to you. It can also be recited at other times when seeking sincere repentance.
How to Read
Recite this dua with a sincere heart, acknowledging your shortcomings and your need for Allah's mercy. Focus on the meaning of each word: confessing all your sins, whether seemingly insignificant or major, those committed in the past or present, openly or in secret. It's best recited while in a state of prayer or supplication (du'a), with full conviction that Allah is Ar-Rahman (The Most Compassionate) and Al-Ghaffar (The Ever-Forgiving).
Virtues & Benefits
Seeking forgiveness during Tahajjud is a practice deeply rooted in the Sunnah. It is a time when Allah descends to the lowest heaven, inviting us to ask Him for whatever we need. This specific dua encompasses a comprehensive plea for absolution, acknowledging the vastness of our sins and the infinite mercy of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us this very supplication, highlighting its importance in cleansing ourselves from wrongdoings and drawing closer to our Creator. By seeking forgiveness, especially for minor sins, we prevent them from accumulating and becoming major, and we earn Allah's pleasure.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate at night and say: 'O Allah, Lord of Jibrael and Mikael and Israfeel, Creator of the heavens and the earth, Knower of the unseen and that which is seen, You are the Arbiter between Your servants concerning that wherein they differed. Guide me to that wherein we differed concerning the truth, by Your permission. Verily, You guide whom You will to the straight path.' Then he would supplicate: 'O Allah, forgive me my sins, the small and the great, the first and the last, the apparent and the hidden.' And he would supplicate: 'O Allah, make me love faith and make it pleasing to my heart, and make me detest disbelief and sin and disobedience. Make me among those who are rightly guided.'