Istighfar · الاستغفار
What is Istighfar?
A platform to help you remember Allah and seek forgiveness with ease.
Istighfar is not merely repeating words; it includes:
- Acknowledging sin and falling short.
- Regretting what you did.
- Asking Allah for forgiveness.
- Resolving to leave the sin and not return to it.
Well-known phrases of Istighfar
أستغفر الله العظيم وأتوب إليه
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm wa-atūbu ilayh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent and repent to Him.
أستغفر الله وأتوب إليه
Astaghfirullāh wa-atūbu ilayh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him.
رب اغفر لي وتب عليّ إنك أنت التواب الرحيم
Rabbi ighfir lī wa tub ʿalayya innaka Anta at-Tawwāb ar-Raḥīm.
My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance—You are the Accepter of repentance, the Most Merciful.
Sayyid al-Istighfar
Along with saying «Astaghfirullah», the Prophet (ﷺ) taught the Sahabah the comprehensive duʿāʾ known as Sayyid al-Istighfar—the best form of seeking forgiveness.
In it the believer affirms Allah’s Lordship and exclusive worship, confesses shortcomings, and thanks Him for His blessings. Whoever says it with certainty in the evening and dies before morning, or in the morning and dies before evening, enters Paradise, as in the authentic hadith.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل زور نطقت به
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli zūrin nuṭiqtu bih.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every false word I spoke.
Seeking forgiveness for false or dishonest speech.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل حق أضــعــتــه
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli ḥaqqin aḍaʿtuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every right I failed to uphold.
Admitting failure to uphold divine or human rights.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل باطل اتبعــتــه ...استغفر الله العظيم من كل وقت أهــــدرته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli bāṭilin itbaʿtuh… min kulli waqtin ahdartuh.
I seek forgiveness for following falsehood and wasting precious time.
Repentance for falsehood and wasted time.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل ضمير قـــتلـته ... استغفر الله العظيم من كل سر أفشـــيـته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli ḍamīrin qataltuh… min kulli sirrin afshaytuh.
I seek forgiveness for hardening my heart and revealing secrets that should stay hidden.
Pardon for a hardened heart and exposing secrets.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل أمين خدعــتــه ... استغفر الله العظيم من كل وعد أخلــفـته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli amīnin khadaʿtuh… min kulli waʿdin akhlaftuh.
I seek forgiveness for betraying trust and breaking promises.
Seeking forgiveness for betrayal and broken promises.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل عهد خــــــنته ...استغفر الله العظيم من كل امرئ خذلــته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli ʿahdin khanntuh… min kulli imriʾin khadaltuh.
I seek forgiveness for broken covenants and failing those who relied on me.
Repentance for broken covenants and letting people down.
Virtues of Istighfar in the Quran and Sunnah
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: «Whoever keeps to Istighfar, Allah will make for him a way out from every difficulty, relief from every distress, and provision from where he does not expect.»
اللهم أنت ربي لا إله إلا أنت، خلقتني وأنا عبدك، وأنا على عهدك ووعدك ما استطعت، أعوذ بك من شر ما صنعت، أبوء لك بنعمتك عليَّ، وأبوء بذنبي، فاغفر لي، فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت.
Allāhumma Anta Rabbī lā ilāha illā Ant, khalaqtanī wa anā ʿabduk, wa anā ʿalā ʿahdika wa waʿdika mā staṭaʿt, aʿūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣanaʿt, abūʾu laka biniʿmatika ʿalayya wa abūʾu bidhanbī, faghfir lī fa-innahu lā yaghfiru dh-dhunūba illā Ant.
O Allah, You are my Lord—none has the right to be worshipped but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I uphold Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin—so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل ذنب أذنبتـــــه
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli dhanbin adhnabtuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every sin I have committed.
Comprehensive repentance for every sin, knowingly or by mistake.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل فرض تركـــته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli farḍin taraktuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every obligatory duty I neglected.
Seeking forgiveness for neglected obligatory duties and worship.
Istighfar: a door to tawbah, mercy, and rizq
If debt, illness, or worries weigh on you, increase in Istighfar. It opens the door of tawbah, Allah’s mercy, and lawful provision.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل إنسان ظلـمـته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli insānin ẓalamtuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every person I have wronged.
Acknowledging wrong done to others and seeking tawbah for it.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل صالح جفـوته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli ṣāliḥin jafawtuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every good deed I abandoned.
Tawbah for neglecting good deeds you once kept.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل ظالم صاحـــبته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli ẓālimin ṣaḥabtuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every oppressor I kept company with.
Repentance for keeping company with oppressors or staying silent.
When hardship closes in upon you
When trials surround you on every side, remember that your Lord in heaven is not helpless. Raise your hands and increase in Istighfar; Allah does not forsake His servant who turns to Him in repentance.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل بـــر أجــلته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli birrin ajaltuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every kind person I repaid poorly.
Asking pardon for repaying kindness with poor treatment.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل ناصح أهنــته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli nāṣiḥin ahnaytuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every sincere advisor I hurt.
Forgiveness for hurting those who sincerely advised you.
استغفر الله العظيم من كل محمود سئـمته
Astaghfirullāh al-ʿAẓīm min kulli maḥmūdin siʾmtuh.
I seek forgiveness from Allah the Magnificent for every praiseworthy person I disliked.
Repenting for ill thoughts toward those deserving praise.
More reminders on Istighfar
Short lessons on Istighfar, Allah’s mercy, and Sayyid al-Istighfar.
More adhkār and Islamic lessons on the Masba7a - المسبحة أونلاين YouTube channel.
Istighfar on Masba7a - المسبحة أونلاين