This excerpt is taken from the book published by Maktaba Darussalam The Virtues and Benefits of Istighfar and Ta'awwudh.
A person faces difficulties everywhere while living in this world. Traveling through the desert of life, he burns under the harsh sun of trials. He wanders in the darkness of grief and sorrow and dives into the deep ocean of sadness and distress. The modern man is entangled in the complexities of life and remains afflicted with worries. He constantly seeks happiness. He looks for aspects of joy in small matters. However, he remains deprived of true happiness. While journeying through the desert of life, the oasis of hope does not appear to him. In this regard, three things have been said to Muslims and the people of faith that encourage him and acquaint his heart with tranquility and happiness.
① The first reassuring point:
So it is that the hardships and difficulties that occur in a Muslim's life become expiation for some of his sins. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: [ما يصيب المسلم من نصب، ولا وصب، ولا هم، ولا حزن، ولا أذى، ولا غم، حتى الشوكة يشاكها، إلا كفر الله بها من خطاياه.]
Any pain, illness, or sorrow that befalls a believing servant, even a thorn that pricks him, Allah forgives some of his sins in return.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 5642, Musnad Ahmad: 11141-8027
◈ According to another narration, the Prophet ﷺ said: [ما من شيء يصيب المؤمن في جسده يؤذيه، إلا كفر الله عنه به من سيئاته]
Whatever afflicts a believer in his body that causes him harm, Allah forgives some of his evils in return.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 16899
◈ On another occasion, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: [إذا كثرت ذنوب العبد، ولم يكن له ما يكفرها من العمل ، ابتلاه الله عز وجل بالحزن ليكفرها عنه]
When a servant's sins increase and no good deed of his can serve as expiation for those sins, Allah afflicts him with grief so that it becomes expiation for those sins.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 25236 (weak), and Al-Silsilah Al-Da‘ifah, Hadith: 2695
② The second comforting matter:
The common hardships and difficulties in human life are caused by these very sins, but the second reassuring aspect of this matter is that there are very few sins for which hardships and difficulties come as a consequence. Most sins are forgiven by Allah Almighty out of His grace and mercy. His exalted statement is: [وَ مَاۤ اَصَابَکُمۡ مِّنۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٍ فَبِمَا کَسَبَتۡ اَیۡدِیۡکُمۡ وَ یَعۡفُوۡا عَنۡ کَثِیۡرٍ]
And whatever affliction befalls you, it is because of what your own hands have earned; and He pardons much.
Reference: Ash-Shura: 30
◈ If He were to seize everyone for what they earned, no living creature would remain on the earth. He said: [وَ لَوۡ یُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰہُ النَّاسَ بِمَا کَسَبُوۡا مَا تَرَکَ عَلٰی ظَہۡرِہَا مِنۡ دَآبَّۃٍ وَّ لٰکِنۡ یُّؤَخِّرُہُمۡ اِلٰۤی اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُہُمۡ فَاِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ بِعِبَادِہٖ بَصِیۡرًا]
And if Allah were to punish people for what they have earned, He would not leave on the earth any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term comes, then indeed Allah has been, of His servants, Seeing.
Reference: Fatir: 45
◈ Furthermore He said: [وَ لَوۡ یُؤَاخِذُ اللّٰہُ النَّاسَ بِظُلۡمِہِمۡ مَّا تَرَکَ عَلَیۡہَا مِنۡ دَآبَّۃٍ وَّ لٰکِنۡ یُّؤَخِّرُہُمۡ اِلٰۤی اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ۚ فَاِذَا جَآءَ اَجَلُہُمۡ لَا یَسۡتَاۡخِرُوۡنَ سَاعَۃً وَّ لَا یَسۡتَقۡدِمُوۡنَ]
And if Allah were to punish the people for their wrongdoing, He would not leave upon it any creature, but He defers them for a specified term. And when their term comes, they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede it.
Reference: An-Nahl: 61
◈ In a Hadith Qudsi it is stated: that Allah Almighty said: [يا عبادي: إنما هي أعمالكم أحصيها لكم، ثم أوفيكم إياها فمن وجد خيرا فليحمد الله، ومن وجد غير ذلك فلا يلومن إلا نفسه]
O My servants! These are your deeds which I count for you. Then I give you full recompense for them. So whoever finds good, let him thank Allah, and whoever finds other than that, let him blame only himself.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2577
Sins cause a person to be afflicted with troubles. They put him into distress. Sometimes these sins even destroy and ruin him.
③ The third joyful matter:
Muslims have been informed that it is possible to remedy the harm caused by sins. The way to do this is for a person to adopt the path of repentance and seeking forgiveness. He should sincerely ask Allah Almighty for forgiveness and seek refuge in Allah from the adverse effects of sins. For a person who is suffering from difficult circumstances, this is the only effective remedy to escape the grip of severe conditions. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: [من أكثر من الاستغفار، جعل الله له من كل هم فرجا، ومن كل ضيق مخرجا، ورزقه من حيث لا يحتسب]
Whoever frequently seeks forgiveness, Allah Almighty will provide relief from every distress and a way out from every difficulty, and will provide sustenance from sources he does not expect.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 2234 (weak), and Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3819
◈ Thus, istighfar is a healing medicine for the patient afflicted with the disease of sins.
◈ It is a ship of salvation for the person who is drowning in the filthy pond of disobediences.
◈ Istighfar is a message of prosperity for the distressed person whose back has been broken by trials, difficulties, calamities, and pains.
◈ For the person burdened under the weight of sorrow and grief, istighfar is the soul-refreshing glad tidings of relief from sadness and distress.
◈ It is an open path for the helpless person for whom the earth has become narrow despite all its vastness.
◈ The despairing person who is tired of himself and suffers from anxiety and distress, istighfar removes his despair and anxiety, grants him new life, and acquaints him with generosity.
◈ Istighfar is the lost treasure of every person who searches for true happiness but does not find it.
◈ It is the glad tidings of comfort for every person who suffers from financial hardship.
◈ The childless person who desires offspring, by performing istighfar, is granted children.
◈ The patient who suffers from a chronic illness and has lost hope in life, istighfar brings him the message of healing and health.
◈ Istighfar is the remedy for the pain and suffering of all these distressed individuals.
❀ The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: It is a blessing for the person who finds much istighfar recorded in his book of deeds.
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3818
In what words should istighfar and forgiveness be sought? The best words and phrases in this regard are those mentioned in the Holy Quran, attributed to various Prophets (peace be upon them) or other righteous people. Then there are the supplications which the Holy Prophet ﷺ adopted as istighfar or encouraged seeking forgiveness through. First, we will mention the Quranic supplications, and then the Prophetic supplications.
◈ When the father of mankind, our master Adam, and mother Eve (peace be upon them) made a mistake, they sought forgiveness in these words:
[1] [رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا ٜ وَ اِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ تَرۡحَمۡنَا لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ]
O our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.
Reference: Al-A'raf: 23
◈ Our Master Noah (peace be upon him) sought forgiveness from Allah with these words:
[2] [رَبِّ اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ لِوَالِدَیَّ وَ لِمَنۡ دَخَلَ بَیۡتِیَ مُؤۡمِنًا وَّ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ]
My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house as a believer, and forgive the believing men and believing women.
Reference: Nuh:28
◈ Our Master Abraham Khalilullah (peace be upon him) sought forgiveness and pardon from Allah on various occasions with these words:
[3] [رَبَّنَا اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ لِوَالِدَیَّ وَ لِلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ یَوۡمَ یَقُوۡمُ الۡحِسَابُ]
Our Lord! On the Day when the account will be established, forgive me, my parents, and all the believers.
Reference: Ibrahim:41
[4] [رَبَّنَا لَا تَجۡعَلۡنَا فِتۡنَۃً لِّلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا وَ اغۡفِرۡ لَنَا رَبَّنَا ۚ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ]
Our Lord! Do not make us a trial for those who disbelieve, and forgive us. Our Lord! Indeed, You are the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Reference: Al-Mumtahina:5
[5] [وَ تُبۡ عَلَیۡنَا ۚ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِیۡمُ]
And turn to us in mercy. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:128
◈ Our Master Yusuf (peace be upon him) prayed for forgiveness for his brothers with these words:
[6] [یَغۡفِرُ اللّٰہُ لَکُمۡ ۫ وَ ہُوَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ]
May Allah forgive you, and He is the most merciful of the merciful.
Reference: Yusuf:92
◈ Our master Yunus (peace be upon him) sought forgiveness from Allah in these words while in the belly of the fish:
[7] [لَّاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡتَ سُبۡحٰنَکَ اِنِّیۡ کُنۡتُ مِنَ الظّٰلِمِیۡنَ]
There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.
Reference: Al-Anbiya:87
◈ The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever among the Muslims prays for any matter with these words, Allah Almighty accepts it.
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3505
◈ Our master Musa (peace be upon him) repeatedly supplicated to the Divine Presence for forgiveness with these words:
[8] [رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِیۡ فَاغۡفِرۡلِیۡ]
My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.
Reference: Al-Qasas:16
[9] [اَنۡتَ وَلِیُّنَا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ ارۡحَمۡنَا وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الۡغٰفِرِیۡنَ]
You are our helper, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of forgivers.
Reference: Al-A'raf:155
[10] [سُبۡحٰنَکَ تُبۡتُ اِلَیۡکَ وَ اَنَا اَوَّلُ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ]
(Oh Allah!) You are pure; I repent to You, and I am the first of the believers.
Reference: Al-A'raf:143
[11] [رَبِّ اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ لِاَخِیۡ وَ اَدۡخِلۡنَا فِیۡ رَحۡمَتِکَ ۫ۖ وَ اَنۡتَ اَرۡحَمُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ]
My Lord, forgive me and my brother and admit us into Your mercy, and You are the most merciful of the merciful.
Reference: Al-A'raf:151
◈ Prophet Musa (Moses) peace be upon him, by Allah's command, instructed the Children of Israel to seek forgiveness with this phrase when entering the settlement of Banu Amalqa:
[12] [حِطَّۃٌ]
(O Allah!) forgive us.
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 58
◈ After the magicians of Pharaoh's people believed, they prayed to Allah for forgiveness of their sins as follows:
[13] اِنَّـاۤ اٰمَنَّا بِرَبِّنَا لِیَغۡفِرَ لَنَا خَطٰیٰنَا وَ مَاۤ اَکۡرَہۡتَنَا عَلَیۡہِ مِنَ السِّحۡرِ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ خَیۡرٌ وَّ اَبۡقٰی]
Indeed, we have believed in our Lord so He may forgive us our sins and the magic to which You compelled us, and Allah is better and Everlasting.
Reference: Ta-Ha: 73
[14] [اِنَّا نَطۡمَعُ اَنۡ یَّغۡفِرَ لَنَا رَبُّنَا خَطٰیٰنَاۤ اَنۡ کُنَّاۤ اَوَّلَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ]
Indeed, we hope that our Lord will forgive our sins because we were the first to believe.
Reference: Ash-Shu'ara: 51
◈ Among the Children of Israel, those who worshipped the calf prayed for forgiveness of their sins as follows:
[15] [لَئِنۡ لَّمۡ یَرۡحَمۡنَا رَبُّنَا وَ یَغۡفِرۡ لَنَا لَنَکُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِیۡنَ]
If our Lord does not have mercy on us and forgive us, we will surely be among the losers.
Reference: Al-A'raf: 149
◈ Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon) peace be upon him, in seeking forgiveness and kingship, supplicated to Allah as follows:
[16] [رَبِّ اغۡفِرۡ لِیۡ وَ ہَبۡ لِیۡ مُلۡکًا لَّا یَنۡۢبَغِیۡ لِاَحَدٍ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِیۡ ۚ اِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡوَہَّابُ]
O my Lord! Forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower.
Reference: Sad: 35
◈ Queen of Sheba (Bilqis) admitted her fault and sought forgiveness, accepting Islam as follows:
[17] [رَبِّ اِنِّیۡ ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِیۡ وَ اَسۡلَمۡتُ مَعَ سُلَیۡمٰنَ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ]
O my Lord! Indeed, I have wronged myself, and now I submit with Solomon to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
Reference: An-Naml:44
◈ Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah for the forgiveness of his followers as follows:
[18] [اِنۡ تُعَذِّبۡہُمۡ فَاِنَّہُمۡ عِبَادُکَ ۚ وَ اِنۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَہُمۡ فَاِنَّکَ اَنۡتَ الۡعَزِیۡزُ الۡحَکِیۡمُ]
If You punish them, indeed they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, indeed it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Reference: Al-Ma'idah:118
◈ Some previous Prophets (peace be upon them) and their followers sought forgiveness from Allah with these words:
[19] [رَبَّنَا اغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوۡبَنَا وَ اِسۡرَافَنَا فِیۡۤ اَمۡرِنَا وَ ثَبِّتۡ اَقۡدَامَنَا وَ انۡصُرۡنَا عَلَی الۡقَوۡمِ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ]
Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs, and make firm our feet and help us against the disbelieving people.
Reference: Aal Imran:147
◈ The bearers of the Throne and the angels around them pray to Allah for the forgiveness of the believers in these words:
[20] [رَبَّنَا وَسِعۡتَ کُلَّ شَیۡءٍ رَّحۡمَۃً وَّ عِلۡمًا فَاغۡفِرۡ لِلَّذِیۡنَ تَابُوۡا وَ اتَّبَعُوۡا سَبِیۡلَکَ وَ قِہِمۡ عَذَابَ الۡجَحِیۡمِ]
O our Lord! You encompass all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your path, and save them from the punishment of Hell.
Reference: Al-Mu’min:7
◈ The Holy Prophet ﷺ was commanded to seek forgiveness and pardon in these words:
[21] [رَّبِّ اغۡفِرۡ وَ ارۡحَمۡ وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ]
O my Lord! Forgive me, and have mercy on me, and You are the best of the merciful.
Reference: Al-Mu’minun:118
◈ On the Day of Resurrection, the Holy Prophet ﷺ and his followers will pray in these words:
[22] [رَبَّنَاۤ اَتۡمِمۡ لَنَا نُوۡرَنَا وَ اغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ۚ اِنَّکَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ قَدِیۡرٌ]
O our Lord! Complete our light for us and forgive us, surely You have power over all things.
Reference: At-Tahrim:8
◈ In what words do Allah Almighty's pious and chosen servants seek forgiveness before their Lord, or in what words should people present their request for forgiveness before their Creator, Allah Almighty has mentioned the prayers of some of the people of Allah for the guidance of such people as follows:
[23] [رَبَّنَاۤ اٰمَنَّا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ ارۡحَمۡنَا وَ اَنۡتَ خَیۡرُ الرّٰحِمِیۡنَ]
O our Lord! We have believed, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the best of the merciful.
Reference: Al-Mu’minun:109
[24] [رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّنَاۤ اٰمَنَّا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوۡبَنَا وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ]
O our Lord! Indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Reference: Aal Imran:16
[25] [رَبَّنَا فَاغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ذُنُوۡبَنَا وَ کَفِّرۡ عَنَّا سَیِّاٰتِنَا وَ تَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الۡاَبۡرَارِ]
O our Lord! Then forgive our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.
Reference: Aal Imran:193
[26] [غُفۡرَانَکَ رَبَّنَا وَ اِلَیۡکَ الۡمَصِیۡرُ]
O our Lord! We ask for Your forgiveness, and to You is the return.
Reference: Al-Baqarah:285
[27] [رَبَّنَا اغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَ لِاِخۡوَانِنَا الَّذِیۡنَ سَبَقُوۡنَا بِالۡاِیۡمَانِ وَ لَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِیۡ قُلُوۡبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا رَبَّنَاۤ اِنَّکَ رَءُوۡفٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ]
O our Lord! Forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and put no resentment in our hearts toward those who have believed. Our Lord! Indeed, You are Kind and Merciful.
Reference: Al-Hashr: 10
[28] [رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذۡنَاۤ اِنۡ نَّسِیۡنَاۤ اَوۡ اَخۡطَاۡنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَ لَا تَحۡمِلۡ عَلَیۡنَاۤ اِصۡرًا کَمَا حَمَلۡتَہٗ عَلَی الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَ لَا تُحَمِّلۡنَا مَا لَا طَاقَۃَ لَنَا بِہٖ ۚ وَ اعۡفُ عَنَّا ٝ وَ اغۡفِرۡ لَنَا ٝ وَ ارۡحَمۡنَا ٝ اَنۡتَ مَوۡلٰىنَا فَانۡصُرۡنَا عَلَی الۡقَوۡمِ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ]
O our Lord! Do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. O our Lord! And lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. O our Lord! And burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people.
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 286
This exalted command of Allah Almighty (which is called Hadith Qudsi) was narrated by Abu Dharr Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, from the Holy Prophet ﷺ. He narrated it from Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty addressed His servants and said:
[يَا عِبَادِي: إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا، فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا]
O My servants! Verily, I have forbidden oppression for Myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.
[يَا عِبَادِي: كُلُّكُمْ ضَالٌّ إِلَّا مَنْ هَدَيْتُهُ، فَاسْتَهْدُونِي أَهْدِكُمْ]
O My servants! You are all astray except those whom I guide, so ask Me for guidance, and I will guide you.
[يَا عِبَادِي: كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إِلَّا مَنْ أَطْعَمْتُهُ، فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ]
O My servants! Each of you is hungry except those whom I feed, so ask Me for food, and I will feed you.
[يَا عِبَادِي: كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إِلَّا مَنْ كَسَوْتُهُ، فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ]
O My servants! Each of you is naked except those whom I clothe, so ask Me for clothing, and I will clothe you.
[يَا عِبَادِي: إِنَّكُمْ تُخْطِئُونَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَأَنَا أَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا، فَاسْتَغْفِرُونِي أَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ]
O My servants! Indeed, you commit sins by night and day, and I forgive all sins, so ask Me for forgiveness, and I will forgive you.
[يَا عِبَادِي: إِنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَبْلُغُوا ضَرِّي، فَتَضُرُّونِي وَلَنْ تَبْلُغُوا نَفْعِي، فَتَنْفَعُونِي]
O My servants! You can never harm Me so as to harm Me, and you can never benefit Me so as to benefit Me.
[يَا عِبَادِي: لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ، وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ، كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ، مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئًا]
O My servants! Even if all the jinn and humans before and after you were to become like the heart of the most pious person among you, it would not increase My dominion in any way.
[يَا عِبَادِي: لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ، وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ، كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْئًا]
O My servants! Even if all the jinn and humans before and after you were to become like the heart of the most wicked person among you, it would not decrease My dominion in any way.
[يَا عِبَادِي: لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ، وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ، قَامُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَسَأَلُونِي فَأَعْطَيْتُ كُلَّ إِنْسَانٍ مَسْأَلَتَهُ مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا عِنْدِي، إِلَّا كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمِخْيَطُ إِذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ]
O My servants! If all the jinn and humans before and after you were to stand in one place and ask from Me, and I were to grant every person their need, it would not decrease from what I possess (My treasures) any more than a needle decreases the sea when it is thrown into it.
[يَا عِبَادِي: إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ، ثُمَّ أُوَفِّيكُمْ إِيَّاهَا فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَهُ]
O My servants! These are indeed your deeds which I am reckoning for you. Then I give you full recompense for them. So whoever attains good, let him thank Allah. And whoever attains anything other than that, let him blame only himself.
Sa'id bin Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Whenever Abu Idris Khulani, may Allah have mercy on him, would narrate this hadith, he would sit on his knees out of extreme reverence.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2577
In this magnificent hadith, Allah Almighty has manifested His Lordship over the worlds and mentioned various aspects of His boundless mercy. It is a manifestation of His mercy that He arranges all the necessities of people without discrimination. He provides for their food and clothing. He fulfills all their small and large needs. Thus, He has commanded people to present even their smallest needs before Him so that He may fulfill them. The hadith also indicates that Allah Almighty is the owner of all the treasures of the earth and the heavens.
If He continues to give to all the people of the past and the future, His treasures will not diminish even by a particle. Just as if a needle is dipped into the ocean and taken out, the ocean’s water does not decrease by a drop.
Humans commit mistakes. They commit sins. Thus, one of their greatest needs is that their mistakes be forgiven.
The burden of sins be lifted from their shoulders. In fact, it would not be wrong to say that the greatest need of the two intelligent creatures living on earth, i.e., jinn and humans, is that their sins be forgiven. Allah Almighty has promised both these creatures that He will forgive their sins. The condition is that they ask for forgiveness from Him. If they ask for forgiveness, He will forgive their sins.
It is also stated that whatever good or bad conditions you face are the results of your own deeds. If you face good conditions, then thank Allah that He has forgiven you. If you face bad conditions, then blame yourself, hold yourself responsible, for these are the consequences of your misdeeds.
The hadith also shows that if a person faces bad conditions and difficulties, he should ask Allah Almighty for forgiveness of his sins and frequently seek forgiveness (istighfar).
Numerous supplications for repentance, seeking forgiveness, and asking for the pardon of sins have been narrated from the Holy Prophet ﷺ. It is not possible to mention all here; we will mention some important and essential supplications:
Prophetic Supplications for Istighfar
[1] [أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ]
I seek forgiveness from Allah.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 591; Sayyiduna Thawban رضي الله عنه reports that the Holy Prophet ﷺ used to seek forgiveness three times after finishing the prayer. The narrator of this hadith, Waleed, says that he asked Imam Awza'i رحمه الله: How did you seek forgiveness? He said: You would recite [أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ].
[2] [سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي]
You are pure, O Allah! O our Lord! With Your praise, O Allah! Forgive me.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 794, and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 484
[3] [رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ]
O my Lord! Forgive me and accept my repentance; indeed, You are the Most Accepting of Repentance, the Most Merciful.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 1516, and Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3814, Muhaddith Albani رحمه الله has declared this hadith authentic
◈ Our master Abdullah bin Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates: that we used to count the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying (the aforementioned) Istighfar one hundred times in a gathering.
[4] [أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ، وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ]
I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Great, besides whom there is no deity worthy of worship. He is Ever-Living, Sustainer of all, and I repent to Him.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 1517, and Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3577, Muhaddith Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, declared this hadith authentic
◈ Our master Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates this noble statement of the Prophet ﷺ that whoever recites these (aforementioned) words is forgiven even if he fled from the battlefield of Jihad.
Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite these words abundantly:
[5] [سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ]
Allah is pure with His praise, I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 484
[6] [أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ]
I seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty and repent to Him.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 6307, and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2702
◈ Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: I seek forgiveness and repent to Allah more than seventy times a day.
Sayyid al-Istighfar: These are the most excellent words of seeking forgiveness:
[7] [اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ]
O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity worthy of worship except You. You created me and I am Your servant. I uphold Your covenant and promise as best as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I confess my sins. So forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever recites these words with certainty during the day and dies before the evening, he will be among the people of Paradise. And whoever recites these words with certainty at night and dies before the morning, he will be among the people of Paradise.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 6306
[8] [اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي]
O Allah! You are Most Forgiving, Most Generous and Bountiful, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3513, and Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3850, and Musnad Ahmad: 35384
[9] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي، وَجَهْلِي، وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي هَزْلِي وَجِدِّي وَخَطَئِي وَعَمْدِي، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي]
O my God! Forgive my mistakes, ignorance, excesses in my affairs, and those sins which You know better than I do. O Allah! The sins I committed in jest or deliberately, or by forgetfulness or intentionally, in short, all these were from me, forgive them all.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 6398, and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2719
[10] [اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ]
O my God! Indeed, I have wronged my own soul greatly, and no one can forgive sins except You, so forgive me from Your presence and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 834, and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2705
[11] [اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ، وَتَرْكَ الْمُنْكَرَاتِ، وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِينِ، وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي وَتَرْحَمَنِي، وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ فِتْنَةَ قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنِي غَيْرَ مَفْتُونٍ، أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ ، وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ، وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى حُبِّكَ]
O Allah! I ask You for the ability to do good deeds, to abandon evil, to love the poor, and that You forgive me and have mercy on me. If You intend to test any nation, then grant me death before the test, and I ask You for Your love, the love of the one who loves You, and the love of every deed that brings me closer to Your love.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 22109, Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3235, and Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim: 1934. Imam Tirmidhi (may Allah have mercy on him) said it is Hasan, and he also said that when he asked Muhammad bin Ismail, i.e., Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) about this hadith, he said it is Hasan. At the end of this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ also said: "Remember it and teach it to others."
[12] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي، وَوَسِّعْ لِي فِي دَارِي، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِي رِزْقِي]
O my God! Forgive my sins, expand my home for me, and bless my sustenance.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad: 16599, Sahih al-Jami': 1265
[13] [اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ يَا اللَّهُ بِأَنَّكَ الْوَاحِدُ الْأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ، أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ]
O my God! I ask You, O my God! Because You are One, Unique, so self-sufficient that You have no offspring, nor are You the offspring of anyone, nor do You have a partner. (I ask) that You forgive my sins, surely You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith: 1302, and Musnad Ahmad: 18974
[14] [اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِي مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالْخَطَايَا اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنْهَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ طَهِّرْنِي بِالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَالْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ]
O my God! Purify me from sins and mistakes. O my God! Cleanse me from them as a white cloth is cleansed from dirt. O my God! Purify me (my sins) by washing with snow, hail, and cold water.
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i, Hadith: 402
[15] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ وَمَا أَخْطَأْتُ وَمَا عَمَدْتُ وَمَا عَلِمْتُ وَمَا جَهِلْتُ]
O my God! Forgive all my hidden and open sins, those I committed by forgetfulness or knowingly, those I am aware of and those I have not realized.
Reference: Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim: 1945, and Musnad Ahmad: 17114, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said its chain is authentic in Al-Asabah
[16] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَعَافِنِي، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ ضِيقِ الْمَقَامِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ]
O Allah! Forgive me, guide me, provide for me, and grant me comfort and well-being, and I seek refuge in Allah from the distress of standing on the Day of Resurrection (in the gathering of the Hereafter).
Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 1356, Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 766, Sunan An-Nasa'i, Hadith: 1618
[17] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي]
O my God! Forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2697, Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 832, In the narration of Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ said to a Bedouin: "These words will gather for you your worldly life and your Hereafter." Abu Dawood's words are that when the Bedouin stood up, the Prophet ﷺ said: "He has filled his hands with goodness."
[18] [اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الْأَمْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ عَزِيمَةَ الرُّشْدِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ، وَحُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لِسَانًا صَادِقًا وَقَلْبًا سَلِيمًا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا تَعْلَمُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ مِمَّا تَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ]
O Allah! I ask You for firmness in matters and steadfastness in guidance, and I ask You for the means of Your mercy and the provisions of Your forgiveness. And I ask You for the ability to be grateful for Your blessings and to perform the best worship to You. And I ask You for a heart that is safe and a truthful tongue. And I ask You for that good which You know. And I seek refuge in You from that evil which You know. And I ask You for forgiveness for the sins which You know. Indeed, You are the Knower of the unseen.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad:17133, Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3407, Silsilat al-Ahadith as-Sahihah, Hadith: 3228, Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by al-Tabarani, Hadith: 7138 and the wording is his
[19] [رَبِّ اغْفِرْلِي خَطِيئَتِي يَوْمَ الدِّينِ]
My Lord! Forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 214. The Holy Prophet ﷺ was asked: O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Ibn Jud'aan used to maintain ties of kinship and feed the poor during the time of ignorance. Will these deeds benefit him? He ﷺ said: "No, because he never said even for one day: My Lord! Forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment."
[20] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي، اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَوْقَ كَثِيرٍ مِّنْ خَلْقِكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي، وَأَدْخِلْنِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مُدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا]
O Allah! Forgive me. O Allah! On the Day of Resurrection, make me among the many of Your creation. O Allah! Forgive my sins and admit me to an honorable position on the Day of Judgment.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith: 4323, and Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2498
[21] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي ذَنْبِي، وَأَذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قَلْبِي، وَأَعِذْنِي مِنْ مُضِلَّاتِ الْفِتَنِ]
O Allah! Forgive my sins, remove the anger from my heart, and protect me from misleading trials.
Reference: This supplication is derived from the prayer said by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for Lady Aisha رضي الله عنها: "O Allah! Forgive her sins, remove her anger, and protect her from misleading trials." (Al-Arba'in fi Manaqib Ummahat al-Mu'minin, p. 85, and Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah by Ibn al-Sunni, Hadith: 457) In another narration by Ibn al-Sunni, instead of "protect her from misleading trials," the words "protect her from Satan" are used.
[22] [اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي كُلَّهُ، دِقَّهُ، وَجِلَّهُ، وَأَوَّلَهُ، وَآخِرَهُ، وَعَلَانِيَتَهُ، وَسِرَّهُ]
O Allah! Forgive all my sins, small and large, past and future, apparent and hidden.
Reference: Sahih Muslim, As-Salat, Chapter on what is said in Ruku and Sujood, Hadith: 483
[23] [رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي]
O my Lord! Forgive me. O my Lord! Forgive me.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, As-Salat, Chapter on what a man says in his Ruku and Sujood, Hadith: 874
After performing acts of worship:
It is recommended to seek forgiveness after performing acts of worship because there is often deficiency and shortcoming in the performance of worship. Seeking forgiveness compensates for these deficiencies and shortcomings. The Divine command is: [ثُمَّ اَفِیۡضُوۡا مِنۡ حَیۡثُ اَفَاضَ النَّاسُ وَ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوا اللّٰہَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِیۡمٌ]
Then turn back to where the people turn back and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
Reference: Surah Al-Baqarah: 199
Time of Sahar:
Allah Almighty has praised those servants who ask for His forgiveness at the time of Sahar. The Divine command is: [وَ الۡمُسۡتَغۡفِرِیۡنَ بِالۡاَسۡحَارِ]
And those who seek forgiveness before dawn.
Reference: Surah Aal Imran: 17
At the end of the gathering:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: Whoever sits in a gathering and causes a lot of noise and disturbance there, then before leaving the gathering, if he recites this supplication, whatever happened in that gathering because of him will be forgiven:
[سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ]
You are pure, O Allah, with Your praise. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: 3433, Muhaddith Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared this hadith authentic
Supplication for the forgiveness of the deceased:
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Uthman ibn Affan (RA) that when the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) finished the burial of the deceased, he would remain there and say:
[اسْتَغْفِرُوا لِأَخِيكُمْ وَاسْأَلُوا لَهُ التَّثْبِيتَ، فَإِنَّهُ الْآنَ يُسْأَلُ]
Ask forgiveness for your brother and seek steadfastness for him, for he is now being questioned.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawood, Hadith: 3221, Allama Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) has declared this hadith authentic
◈ Seeking forgiveness is compliance with the command of Allah.
◈ Seeking forgiveness brings sustenance and increases it.
◈ Seeking forgiveness is the pass to enter Paradise.
◈ Seeking forgiveness causes sins to be forgiven and mistakes to be erased.
◈ After seeking forgiveness, it leads to the elevation of a person's ranks.
◈ Seeking forgiveness removes calamities.
◈ Seeking forgiveness purifies the heart.
◈ Seeking forgiveness grants children to the childless.
◈ Seeking forgiveness maintains health and wellness, and a person benefits fully from their physical and spiritual powers.
Look at this verse from the Holy Quran:
It comprehensively explains the benefits of seeking forgiveness:
[فَقُلۡتُ اسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡا رَبَّکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ غَفَّارًا]،[یُّرۡسِلِ السَّمَآءَ عَلَیۡکُمۡ مِّدۡرَارًا]،[وَّ یُمۡدِدۡکُمۡ بِاَمۡوَالٍ وَّ بَنِیۡنَ وَ یَجۡعَلۡ لَّکُمۡ جَنّٰتٍ وَّ یَجۡعَلۡ لَّکُمۡ اَنۡہٰرًا]
[So I said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord; indeed, He is ever Forgiving.'] [He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers] [And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.]
Reference: Surah Nuh: 10 to 12
◈ It is narrated about Hazrat Hasan Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) that when someone came to him complaining about famine, he advised him to seek forgiveness (istighfar).
Another person complained about poverty and hunger, and he gave him the same prescription.
Another person complained about his garden drying up, and he also said: seek forgiveness.
A person said: I do not have children in my house, and he also told him: seek forgiveness from your Lord.
When someone asked him why he advised everyone to seek forgiveness, he recited this verse and said that he did not say this from himself. This is the remedy that Allah Almighty has prescribed for all these matters.
◈ Istighfar is also a remembrance of Allah, and the remembrance of Allah is the cause of peace of heart. Allah Almighty says: [اَلَا بِذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ الۡقُلُوۡبُ]
Be aware! Only by the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.
Reference: Surah Ar-Ra'd:28
Sayings of the Pious Predecessors Regarding the Benefits of Istighfar
◈ Hazrat Luqman, may Allah have mercy on him, said to his son: Dear son! There are some moments in which Allah Almighty does not return any supplicant empty-handed, so frequently seek forgiveness.
Reference: Shu'ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi: 389/2, Hadith: 1120
◈ Sayyiduna Abu Musa Ash'ari, may Allah be pleased with him, said: There were two kinds of safety from punishment for us. One safety has gone away, which was the presence of the Prophet ﷺ among us. The other safety is seeking forgiveness, which is still with us. If this also goes away, then we will be destroyed.
Reference: Musnad Ahmad (Al-Mawsu'ah al-Hadithiyyah): 393/4
◈ The saying of Hazrat Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, is: Frequently seek forgiveness in your homes, at dining tables, on roads, in markets, and in your gatherings. Because you do not know when forgiveness is granted.
Reference: At-Tawbah by Ibn Abi Dunya, No: 151
◈ Hazrat Qatadah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: This Qur'an informs you about your disease and its cure. Your disease is sins, and its cure is seeking forgiveness.
Reference: Shu'ab al-Iman by Al-Bayhaqi: 347/9, Hadith: 6745
Prosperity Came:
A woman narrates that after the death of her husband, she was left alone with five children, surrounded by despair and distress.
Due to the lack of a steady source of income, making ends meet was difficult, and she invested the little money left by her husband into a business.
One day, after hearing about the virtues of seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) on the radio, she made it a habit and also encouraged her children to frequently seek forgiveness.
Within just six months, a construction project began on their old property, from which they earned millions of rupees.
The woman’s eldest son memorized the Holy Quran and later was appointed as the supervisor of all religious schools in the area, which brought prosperity to their home, and by the grace of Allah, they became well-off.
Allah Almighty guided all their children on the right path, and they are all fulfilling their social roles in the best manner. Thus, by the boundless grace and mercy of Allah, all my troubles were removed, and I attained true happiness.
Domestic Harmony:
A man said that whenever there is a quarrel between my wife and me, I get angry and leave the house. But as soon as I step outside the door, I strongly feel like returning and making peace with my wife. When I told this to my wife, she said, "Do you know why this happens?" I said, "Tell me, so I can understand." She said, "As soon as you leave the house after a fight, I start reciting Istighfar. Then you come back and make peace with me."
Release from imprisonment:
A man said that orders for imprisonment were issued against me for more than a year. I remembered the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (who made seeking forgiveness obligatory...). Therefore, I made the remembrance of Allah and seeking forgiveness a regular practice. Two months passed, and the government officials called me and said that the period of the orders against you has ended and you have been acquitted. When I left from there, one of my long-time benefactors called me and said that he had known I was in jail and that my financial condition was not good. He gave me millions of rupees and said to use this money for your necessities. After some time, he called me again and handed over the same amount to me. Thus, Allah Almighty eased my difficulties due to the abundance of seeking forgiveness and placed mercy for me in the heart of this man.
Umm Yusuf became a mother:
This incident was broadcast on Kuwait's Quran Kareem Radio. It is the story of Umm Yusuf. She said that I had been married for ten to fifteen years, and I had no children. During this time, I consulted all the famous doctors both inside and outside the country, but there was no benefit. One day, I attended a religious lesson. The topic of the lesson was the virtues of seeking forgiveness (Istighfar). After that, I made Istighfar a regular practice. Not even six months had passed when I became hopeful. I had a son whom I named Yusuf. He is now, MashaAllah, six years old.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Saeed Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
[إن الشيطان قال: وعزتك يارب! لا أبرح أغوي عبادك ما دامت أرواحهم في أجسادهم]
Satan said: O Lord! By Your Honor! I will continue to misguide Your servants as long as their souls remain in their bodies.
[فقال الرب عزوجل: وعزتي وجلالي! لا أزال أغفر لهم ما استغفروني]
The Lord Almighty said: By My Honor and My Majesty! I will continue to forgive them as long as they keep asking Me for forgiveness.
Indeed, there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, who has made this hopeful promise to His sinful servants. There is no one worthy of worship except Allah, who has bestowed this grace and mercy upon His deficient servants.
Reference: Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim: 7865, and Musnad Ahmad: 11237
