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: 2459, Authentic]
Narration by Abdullah bin Busr (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):
Abdullah bin Busr (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "Glad tidings (Tuba) to the one who finds abundant Istighfar in their record of deeds."
[Sunan Ibn Majah: 3818, Hasan]
Benefits:
Tuba is either the name of Paradise or a tree in Paradise. [Mirqat al-Mafatih 62/8]
Narration by Aghar al-Muzani (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):
Aghar al-Muzani (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) stated that the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "(Sometimes) my heart is covered with a veil, and I seek forgiveness from Allah one hundred times a day."
[Sahih Muslim: 2702]
Benefits:
Imam Qurtubi (رحمہ اللہ) has discussed this hadith in detail, clarifying that one should not assume that the Prophet’s heart was affected by sins like those of a disobedient person. Rather, he was sinless and honorable, and his actions were not subject to any form of reprimand. It is understood that the veil (غين) mentioned here is not due to sin. [Al-Mufhim 27/7]
Some scholars have explained this hadith with several statements:
Narration by Zaid bin Haritha (مولیٰ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم):
Zaid bin Haritha narrated that he heard the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) saying: "Whoever says:
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِيْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
'I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides whom there is no deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence, and I repent to Him,' their sins will be forgiven, even if they had fled from the battlefield."
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1517, Tirmidhi: 3577, Hasan]
Narration by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) narrated that he heard the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) saying: "If a servant commits a sin, performs ablution properly, prays two rak'ahs, and seeks forgiveness from Allah, Allah will forgive him." Then he recited this verse:
"And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah..." to the end of the verse [Aal-i-Imran: 135].
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1521, Tirmidhi: 3006, Ibn Majah: 1395, Hasan]
Benefits:
All the mentioned narrations clearly highlight the virtue of Istighfar. Various exhortations and encouragements regarding seeking forgiveness are found throughout the Quran and Hadith. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says:
"And Allah would not punish them while you are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness."
[Al-Anfal: 33]
He also says:
"And whoever does a wrong or wrongs themselves but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful." [An-Nisa: 110]
The Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "O women, give charity and seek forgiveness frequently, for I saw you as the majority of the inhabitants of Hell..."
[Sahih Bukhari: 304, Sahih Muslim: 79]
The Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) himself frequently engaged in seeking forgiveness. Aisha (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہا) narrated that before his passing, the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) would often recite these words:
"Glory be to Allah and with His praise, I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him."
[Sahih Bukhari: 4967, Sahih Muslim: 484]
May Allah grant us all the ability to approach Him with humility, devotion, and to constantly seek forgiveness. (Ameen)
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:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْلِيْ وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُوْرُ
"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: 2459, Authentic]
Narration by Abdullah bin Busr (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):
Abdullah bin Busr (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "Glad tidings (Tuba) to the one who finds abundant Istighfar in their record of deeds."
[Sunan Ibn Majah: 3818, Hasan]
Benefits:
Tuba is either the name of Paradise or a tree in Paradise. [Mirqat al-Mafatih 62/8]
Narration by Aghar al-Muzani (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):
Aghar al-Muzani (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) stated that the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "(Sometimes) my heart is covered with a veil, and I seek forgiveness from Allah one hundred times a day."
[Sahih Muslim: 2702]
Benefits:
Imam Qurtubi (رحمہ اللہ) has discussed this hadith in detail, clarifying that one should not assume that the Prophet’s heart was affected by sins like those of a disobedient person. Rather, he was sinless and honorable, and his actions were not subject to any form of reprimand. It is understood that the veil (غين) mentioned here is not due to sin. [Al-Mufhim 27/7]
Some scholars have explained this hadith with several statements:
- The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) was always engaged in the remembrance of Allah. If there was any interruption or forgetfulness, he would seek forgiveness.
- He would seek forgiveness as an act of gratitude and to express servitude.
- When informed of the conditions of his Ummah, he would seek forgiveness for them.
Narration by Zaid bin Haritha (مولیٰ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم):
Zaid bin Haritha narrated that he heard the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) saying: "Whoever says:
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِيْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ وَ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
'I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides whom there is no deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence, and I repent to Him,' their sins will be forgiven, even if they had fled from the battlefield."
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1517, Tirmidhi: 3577, Hasan]
Narration by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ):
Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہ) narrated that he heard the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) saying: "If a servant commits a sin, performs ablution properly, prays two rak'ahs, and seeks forgiveness from Allah, Allah will forgive him." Then he recited this verse:
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَا فَعَلُوۡا فَاحِشَۃً اَوۡ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ ذَکَرُوا اللّٰہَ
"And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah..." to the end of the verse [Aal-i-Imran: 135].
[Sunan Abi Dawood: 1521, Tirmidhi: 3006, Ibn Majah: 1395, Hasan]
Benefits:
All the mentioned narrations clearly highlight the virtue of Istighfar. Various exhortations and encouragements regarding seeking forgiveness are found throughout the Quran and Hadith. Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says:
وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ لِیُعَذِّبَہُمۡ وَ اَنۡتَ فِیۡہِمۡ ؕ وَ مَا کَانَ اللّٰہُ مُعَذِّبَہُمۡ وَ ہُمۡ یَسۡتَغۡفِرُوۡنَ
"And Allah would not punish them while you are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness."
[Al-Anfal: 33]
He also says:
وَ مَنۡ یَّعۡمَلۡ سُوۡٓءًا اَوۡ یَظۡلِمۡ نَفۡسَہٗ ثُمَّ یَسۡتَغۡفِرِ اللّٰہَ یَجِدِ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرًا رَّحِیۡمًا
"And whoever does a wrong or wrongs themselves but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful." [An-Nisa: 110]
The Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said: "O women, give charity and seek forgiveness frequently, for I saw you as the majority of the inhabitants of Hell..."
[Sahih Bukhari: 304, Sahih Muslim: 79]
The Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) himself frequently engaged in seeking forgiveness. Aisha (رضی اللہ تعالیٰ عنہا) narrated that before his passing, the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) would often recite these words:
سبحان الله وبحمده، استغفرالله و اتوب اليه
"Glory be to Allah and with His praise, I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to Him."
[Sahih Bukhari: 4967, Sahih Muslim: 484]
May Allah grant us all the ability to approach Him with humility, devotion, and to constantly seek forgiveness. (Ameen)