In Arabic, the word “tawbah” means “to return” or “to turn back.” In Islamic terminology, repentance means abandoning a sin as disobedience to Allah, feeling ashamed of it, and making a firm resolve not to do it again.
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran:
“O you who have believed! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance.” (Surah At-Tahrim: 8)
In another place in the Quran, Allah Almighty says:
“O My servants who have wronged themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Az-Zumar: 53)
When a servant repents, Allah Almighty is more pleased than a traveler whose luggage is lost in the desert and then suddenly found.
The door of repentance is always open for the sinner. One true tear is enough to wash away all the past sins of a person. This is the hope that never lets a person be broken.
Below are authentic prayers for forgiveness of sins (repentance) and the correct way to repent:
Duas for Seeking Forgiveness
The following duas for forgiveness of major sins are very comprehensive and effective:
1. رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa-illam taghfir lana watarhamna lanakunanna minal-khasirin.
“Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”
This powerful prayer, known as the Dua of Prophet Adam (AS), is found in the Quran in Surah Al-A’raf (7:23).
2. أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لا إِلَهَ إِلا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullāhal-ladhī lā ilāha illā huwal-Hayyul-Qayyūmu wa atūbu ilayh.
“I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence, and I turn to Him in repentance.”
Whoever recites this supplication, Allah Almighty will forgive his sins even if they are equal to the foam of the sea.
In this istighfar, Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyum are the blessed names of Allah Almighty which have the status of “Asm-e-Azam”.
3. لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ سُبْحٰنَکَ اِنِّیْ کُنْتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیْنَ
La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
4. اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ وَأَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
Allahumma-ghfir li dhanbi kullahu, diqqahu wa jillahu, wa awwalahu wa akhirahu, wa ‘alaniyatahu wa sirrahu.
“O Allah, forgive me all my sins: the small and the great, the first and the last, the public and the private.”
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite this supplication frequently in his prayers. In this supplication, forgiveness is sought for all sins, big and small, outward and inward.
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say this while in prostration. Sahih Muslim (483)
5. رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbana-ghfir lī wa liwālidayya wa lil-mu’minīna yawma yaqūmul-hisāb.
“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.”
Sayyid Astaghfar (the best supplication)
Sayyid al-Istighfar is called the chief of supplications. This is the most comprehensive and excellent supplication among all the words of repentance and seeking forgiveness.
The Prophet (ﷺ) has described the great virtue of this supplication:
- Guarantee of Paradise: Whoever recites it during the day with complete certainty and dies before evening on the same day, he will be among the people of Paradise.
- Virtue of the night: Similarly, whoever recites it at night with complete certainty and dies before morning, he will also be among the people of Paradise. (Sahih Bukhari)
To receive the blessings of this prayer, make it a habit to recite it every morning and evening. It is important to reflect on the words as well as their meanings so that there is truth and sincerity in repentance.
To be saved from major sins, it is not enough to simply say “Astaghfirullah” with the tongue, but rather a yearning of the heart and a change in lifestyle are necessary.
We pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability to truly repent and forgive our minor and major sins. Amen.