🕊 6 Evidences Regarding Specific Words of Istighfar in Light of Authentic Ahadith 🕊
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?
▪ Fadhilat al-Shaykh Asadullah Bhambhawi (حفظه الله)
▪ Fadhilat al-Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Tahir (حفظه الله)
▪ Fadhilat al-Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله)
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.
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)
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
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
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
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
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.
“أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبِّيْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَّأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ”
✔ The phrase is meaningful, linguistically correct, and conceptually supported by several authentic Ahadith.
➤ 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.
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
❖ 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 1/351➌ 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 2/85➍ 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 3/1136➎ 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 1/135➏ 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
