رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُورُ
My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepter of Repentance, the Most Forgiving.
*Rabbighfir li wa tub 'alayya innaka antat-Tawwab al-Ghafur*
When to Read
This dua is specifically for moments when you catch yourself feeling a pang of pride or arrogance about something you've achieved, learned, or possess. It's also a beautiful general dua for repentance that can be recited anytime, especially after realizing any shortcoming or sin.
How to Read
Recite this with sincere humility and a genuine sense of turning back to Allah. Acknowledge that all good comes from Him and that any pride is a dangerous snare. Raising your hands slightly can be a gesture of supplication.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is a powerful expression of Tawbah (repentance) directed to Allah, the Ultimate Accepter of Repentance and the Most Forgiving. By seeking forgiveness immediately after a moment of pride, you are actively combating a major spiritual disease that can nullify good deeds. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself would seek Allah's forgiveness frequently, even though he was forgiven for his past and future sins. This teaches us the importance of constant remembrance and seeking refuge from our own lower selves. This specific phrasing is reported to be what the Prophet ﷺ would say in his repentance.
Source & Authentication
‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say frequently when he was sitting and when he was walking: 'SubhanAllahi wa bihamdihi' (Glory be to Allah and praise be to Him) one hundred times. And he used to say: 'Rabbighfir li wa tub 'alayya innaka antat-Tawwab al-Ghafur' (My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepter of Repentance, the Most Forgiving) more than one hundred times. [Sunan Abi Dawud 1514, graded Hasan by some scholars]