🕊 6 Evidences Regarding Specific Words of Istighfar in Light of Authentic Ahadith 🕊
❖ Question:
Do the words: “أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبِّيْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَّأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ” appear in any Hadith?
If not, is it permissible to seek forgiveness using these words?
❖ Answer by:
▪ Fadhilat al-Shaykh Asadullah Bhambhawi (حفظه الله)
▪ Fadhilat al-Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Tahir (حفظه الله)
▪ Fadhilat al-Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله)
✿ Summary Answer:
The complete phrase “أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبِّيْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَّأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ” does not appear in a single Hadith in its full form, however, its parts are found in various authentic narrations, all supporting the intended meaning.
✔ 6 Evidences from Authentic Ahadith:
➊ Frequent Istighfar of the Prophet ﷺ
Imam al-Nasa’i narrated:
“I never saw anyone more frequently say:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”
📚 Al-Sunan al-Kubra (10215), Musnad Abu Ya‘la (247), Sahih Ibn Hibban (928), A‘mal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah (363)
💬 Shaykh Salim bin ‘Eid al-Hilali: “Its chain is Hasan.”
(‘Ujalah al-Raghib 1/418)
➋ Prophet ﷺ Glorified and Sought Forgiveness Often
Narrated by A’ishah (رضی اللہ عنہا):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ frequently said:
“سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ”
📚 Sahih Muslim 1/351
➌ A Complete Phrase in a Different Form
Narrated by Bilal ibn Yasar ibn Zayd (رضی اللہ عنہ):
“Whoever says:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ,
will be forgiven—even if he fled from battle.”
📚 Sunan Abu Dawood 2/85
➍ Statement of ‘Uthman (رضی اللہ عنہ)
Narrated in Tarikh al-Madinah:
‘Uthman (رضی اللہ عنہ) said:
“وَأَنَا أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ”
📚 Tarikh al-Madinah li Ibn Shabbah 3/1136
➎ Allah’s Mercy Upon the One Who Repents
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (رضی اللہ عنہ):
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“A servant sinned and said: O my Lord, I have sinned, so forgive me…”
Allah said: “I have forgiven My servant. Let him do as he wishes.”
📚 Al-Jami‘ al-Sahih lil-Sunan wal-Masanid 1/135
➏ Meaning of Istighfar:
Istighfar implies:
✔ Seeking Allah’s forgiveness for sins
✔ Acknowledging one’s faults
✔ Sincerely repenting with a firm intention not to repeat the sin
Such repentance can be made in various forms, as long as the meaning is sound and consistent with Shar‘i teachings.
❖ Ruling on the Phrasing in Question:
“أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبِّيْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَّأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ”
✔ The phrase is meaningful, linguistically correct, and conceptually supported by several authentic Ahadith.
🧠 Opinions of the Scholars:
➤ Shaykh Asadullah Bhambhawi (حفظه الله):
The meaning is sound, and these words are popular among the general public for expressing sincere repentance.
➤ Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Tahir (حفظه الله):
It is preferable to recite the exact words narrated in Ahadith, but using meaningful alternative phrases is also acceptable. The matter allows for flexibility.
➤ Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله):
I have traced this phrase back to the narration from ‘Uthman (رضی اللہ عنہ). Further verification by other scholars is welcome.
✅ Conclusion:
The phrase in question is not a verbatim quote from a single Hadith, but its meaning is firmly established across multiple authentic narrations. Therefore:
✔ It is permissible to use these words for seeking forgiveness.
✔ However, the ideal practice remains to use the Masnun (Prophetic) supplications, wherever possible.
وَاللهُ أَعلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
