Istighfar

Written by: Hafiz Ziauddin al-Maqdisi (رحمہ اللہ)

Narration by Abdullah bin Umar (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):

Abdullah bin Umar (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) stated that they used to count that the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) would seek forgiveness (Istighfar) one hundred times in a single gathering with the following words:


"O my Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. Indeed, You are the Most Relenting, the Most Forgiving."

[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1516, Ibn Majah: 3814, Tirmidhi: 3434, Ibn Hibban...

Authored by: Fadhilat al-Shaykh Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hammad (may Allah preserve him)

✦ The Prophet’s Practice of Istighfār ✦​

وَإِنِّي لَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 6858]

"Indeed, I seek forgiveness from Allah one hundred times a day."

✦ Benefits ✦​

❖ Istighfār means seeking forgiveness from Allah for sins and shortcomings. It is closely linked with tawbah (repentance)—the two are inseparable.

❖ Istighfār not only erases sins but also brings many worldly blessings. According to Ḥaḍrat Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله...

Source: Maḥnāmah al-Ḥadīth, Ḥaẓro

1. Introduction​

Frequent istighfar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness) occupies a central place in both Qur’an and Sunnah. The following authentic narrations highlight its immense virtue and practical benefits.

2. Key Ahādīth on Istighfar​

❀ Abdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reports:
We counted that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would seek forgiveness one hundred times in a sitting, saying:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُورُ
“O my Lord! Forgive me and turn to me in repentance...

🕊 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...

Virtue of Istighfār: In the Light of Qur’an and Hadith


Taken from: Fatāwā Amanpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amanpuri

❖ Question:​

What is the virtue of Istighfār (seeking forgiveness from Allah)?

❖ Answer:​

The Qur’an and Sunnah mention countless virtues of Istighfār.

◈ Qur’anic Verses on Istighfār​

﴿فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللهِ حَقٌّ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَالْإِبْكَارِ﴾
(Ghafir: 55)


﴿فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَاللهُ...

✿ The Virtue of Abundant Istighfār in Ramadan from Qur'an and Hadith ✿


✍ Authored by: Qari Usama bin Abdus Salaam (ḥafiẓahullāh)

❖ Virtue of Istighfār in the Blessed Month of Ramadan​

Istighfār (seeking forgiveness from Allah) holds immense virtue in the blessed month of Ramadan, as it is a month in which Allah ﷻ forgives countless sins, grants freedom from the Hellfire, and opens the gates of Paradise. Therefore, we should increase in istighfār during this sacred month so we may become deserving of Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

◈ Virtue...​

Written by: Hafiz Nadeem Zaheer

Virtue of Certain Adhkar​

Narrated by Umm al-Mu’minin Juwairiyah (RA):

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by her (Juwairiyah) after the Fajr prayer while she was sitting in her place of prayer. He came back after the Duha (forenoon) and she was still sitting there. He (ﷺ) asked, "Are you still in the same position as I left you?" She replied, "Yes." The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "I recited four words three times after I left you, and if these words were to be weighed against what you have said since morning, these would outweigh them...