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 لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no deity except You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I am abiding by Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for indeed, none can forgive 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, abu'u laka bi ni'matika 'alayya, wa abu'u laka bi dhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.
When to Read
This profound supplication, known as Sayyidul Istighfar, is a comprehensive plea for forgiveness that covers all types of sins – whether known or unknown, intentional or unintentional. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ encouraged us to recite it particularly in the morning and evening. He said that whoever recites it during the day, believing in it firmly, and dies on that same day before evening, will be among the people of Paradise. Similarly, whoever recites it at night with firm belief and dies before morning, will also be among the people of Paradise. While actions (and thus sins) committed during sleep are not held against a person, as the pen is lifted from the sleeper until they awaken, this powerful dua serves as an all-enencompassing purification for any shortcomings throughout our conscious lives and a general turning to Allah for His vast mercy.
How to Read
Recite this beautiful dua with profound sincerity and presence of heart. Take a moment to reflect on each phrase: acknowledge Allah's absolute Lordship, His sole right to worship, and your state as His created servant. Contemplate your commitment to His covenant and promise, and humbly seek refuge from the evil of any wrong you may have committed. Acknowledge His countless blessings upon you and, at the same time, admit your own sins and imperfections, placing your complete trust in His unique ability to forgive. This reflection deepens the meaning of your repentance.
Virtues & Benefits
Sayyidul Istighfar is rightly called the 'Master of Seeking Forgiveness' due to its comprehensive nature and the immense rewards promised by the Prophet ﷺ. Its primary benefit is the assurance of Paradise for those who recite it sincerely in the morning or evening and pass away before the next designated time. Beyond this incredible reward, it serves as a powerful means of spiritual purification, reinforcing your submission to Allah and renewing your covenant with Him daily. It helps in acknowledging Allah's blessings and taking responsibility for your actions. While Islam teaches that you are not accountable for sins committed unknowingly during sleep (as accountability requires consciousness), reciting this dua offers a sense of ultimate peace, covering all potential missteps, known and unknown, ensuring a constant state of repentance and reliance on Allah's boundless mercy.
Source & Authentication
> **Arabic:** عَنْ شَدَّادِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " سَيِّدُ الاِسْتِغْفَارِ أَنْ تَقُولَ 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 لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ". قَالَ " وَمَنْ قَالَهَا مِنَ النَّهَارِ مُوقِنًا بِهَا فَمَاتَ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُمْسِيَ فَهُوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ وَمَنْ قَالَهَا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ وَهْوَ مُوقِنٌ بِهَا فَمَاتَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصْبِحَ فَهْوَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ". > > **Translation:** Narrated Shaddad bin Aus (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness is: 'O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no deity except You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I am abiding by Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for indeed, none can forgive sins except You.' The Prophet (ﷺ) added, 'If somebody recites it during the day with firm belief 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 belief in it and dies before morning, he will be among the people of Paradise.'" > > — Sahih al-Bukhari 6306