اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي جَهْلِي، وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي هَزْلِي وَجِدِّي، وَخَطَئِي وَعَمْدِي، وَعَزْمِي وَهَزْلِي، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
O Allah, forgive me my mistake due to my ignorance, and my extravagance in my affairs, and whatever You know best about me. O Allah, forgive me my jest and my earnestness, my mistake and my deliberate act, my resolve and my jest; and all of that is with me. O Allah, forgive me what I have committed and what I have postponed, what I have concealed and what I have done openly, and whatever You know best about me. You are the One Who sends forth and You are the One Who delays, and You have power over all things.
Allahumma-ghfirli khatee'ati jahli, wa israafi fi amri, wa ma anta a'lamu bihi minni. Allahumma-ghfirli hazli wa jiddi, wa khata'i wa 'amdi, wa 'azmi wa hazli, wa kullu dhalika 'indi. Allahumma-ghfirli ma qaddamtu wa ma akhkhartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a'lantu, wa ma anta a'lamu bihi minni. Antal-muqaddimu wa antal-mu'akhkhiru, wa anta 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer.
When to Read
This is a comprehensive supplication that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would often recite. It's particularly poignant for the elderly who may reflect on their past and seek forgiveness for sins committed in their youth. Recite it during your daily prayers, especially after Salat al-Fajr or after Asr, or at any time you feel the need to turn to Allah for mercy.
How to Read
This dua should be recited with sincerity and a heartfelt acknowledgment of one's shortcomings. It's best to raise your hands slightly, as is the Sunnah when making dua. Utter the words with clarity and contemplation, focusing on the meaning of each phrase. Remember that sincerity and a firm belief in Allah's mercy are key to the acceptance of any dua.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua encapsulates a deep seeking of Allah's forgiveness for all types of sins – whether committed in ignorance or intentionally, in jest or in seriousness, whether they were done in the past or are still to come. It acknowledges Allah's complete knowledge of our actions and His ultimate power over all affairs. For the elderly, it offers a way to seek cleansing and peace as they look back on their lives.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'My heart feels remorse, and I ask for Allah's forgiveness a hundred times a day.' (Sahih Muslim 270a). In another narration from Sahih al-Bukhari (5901), the Prophet ﷺ supplicated: 'O Allah, forgive me my mistake due to my ignorance, and my extravagance in my affairs, and whatever You know best about me. O Allah, forgive me my jest and my earnestness, my mistake and my deliberate act, my resolve and my jest; and all of that is with me. O Allah, forgive me what I have committed and what I have postponed, what I have concealed and what I have done openly, and whatever You know best about me. You are the One Who sends forth and You are the One Who delays, and You have power over all things.'