Istighfar
Encyclopedia
Istighfar , is the act of seeking forgiveness from God
(the Arabic word for God, often used in English in Islamic texts, is Allah
). It is one of the essential parts of worship in Islam. This act is generally done by repeating the Arabic words astaghfirullah, meaning "I seek forgiveness from Allah
". It is also important to note that Arabic speaking non Muslims also use the phrase, for example, Arab Christians
.
A Muslim will use this phrase often, even in conversation with another person. When a Muslim abstains from doing wrong, or even wishes to prove their innocence in an incident, they will use this expression. After every salah (prayer), a Muslim will typically recite the phrase three or more times.
If a Muslim experiences envy
, jealousy
, pride
, feelings of superiority, or perform any improper action, they ask forgiveness from Allah in this fashion. Some Muslims believe the word Istighfar to be innovation, and that the right word is Astaghfirullah.
(Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire)
[surah Ali' Imran; 3:16]
(Glory be to Thee! To Thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe)
[surah al-A'raf, 7:143]
(O Allah! I ask You, O Allah, You are the One, the Only, Self Sufficient Master, who was not begotten and begets not and none is equal to Him. Forgive me my sins, surely you are Forgiving, Merciful.)
[Abu Dawud, an Nasa'i, ibn Majah, at Tirmidhi]
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتَ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
‘O Allaah, You are my Lord, no one has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide to your covenant and promise as best as I can, I take refuge in you from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily no one can forgive sin except you.’
Then Prophet peace upon him continued "“If person recites this during the day with strong faith in it and dies on the same day before the sunset, he will be among the people of Paradise and if somebody recites it at night with strong faith in it and dies before sunrise he will be among the people of Paradise.”
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
(the Arabic word for God, often used in English in Islamic texts, is Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
). It is one of the essential parts of worship in Islam. This act is generally done by repeating the Arabic words astaghfirullah, meaning "I seek forgiveness from Allah
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...
". It is also important to note that Arabic speaking non Muslims also use the phrase, for example, Arab Christians
Arab Christians
Arab Christians are ethnic Arabs of Christian faith, sometimes also including those, who are identified with Arab panethnicity. They are the remnants of ancient Arab Christian clans or Arabized Christians. Many of the modern Arab Christians are descendants of pre-Islamic Christian Arabian tribes,...
.
A Muslim will use this phrase often, even in conversation with another person. When a Muslim abstains from doing wrong, or even wishes to prove their innocence in an incident, they will use this expression. After every salah (prayer), a Muslim will typically recite the phrase three or more times.
If a Muslim experiences envy
Envy
Envy is best defined as a resentful emotion that "occurs when a person lacks another's superior quality, achievement, or possession and either desires it or wishes that the other lacked it."...
, jealousy
Jealousy
Jealousy is a second emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions...
, pride
Pride
Pride is an inwardly directed emotion that carries two common meanings. With a negative connotation, pride refers to an inflated sense of one's personal status or accomplishments, often used synonymously with hubris...
, feelings of superiority, or perform any improper action, they ask forgiveness from Allah in this fashion. Some Muslims believe the word Istighfar to be innovation, and that the right word is Astaghfirullah.
رَبَّنََآ إنَّنَآ ءَاَمنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana innanā amanna, faghfir lana, dhunoobana wa-qinna 'adhāāban-naar(Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire)
[surah Ali' Imran; 3:16]
سُبْحَنَكَ تُبْتُ إلَيْكَ وَ أنَاْ أوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Subhānaka tubtu ilaiyka wa 'ana awwal-ul mu'mineen(Glory be to Thee! To Thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe)
[surah al-A'raf, 7:143]
اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أسْألُكَ يَا اللَّهُ بِأنَّكَ الْوَاحِدُّ الأحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي لَمْيَلِدْ وَ لَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُواً أحَدٌ، أنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي ذُنُوبِي إنَّكَ أنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الَّرحِيمُ
Allahumma inni asaluka ya Allahu bi annakal Wahidul Ahadus-Samadul ladhi, lam ya-lid wa lam youlad, wa lam yakullahu kufuwan Ahad, an taghfirali dhunoobi innaka Antal Ghafūūrur Raheem(O Allah! I ask You, O Allah, You are the One, the Only, Self Sufficient Master, who was not begotten and begets not and none is equal to Him. Forgive me my sins, surely you are Forgiving, Merciful.)
[Abu Dawud, an Nasa'i, ibn Majah, at Tirmidhi]
Sayyidul Istighfar (The Chief Prayer for Repentance)
Reported on the authority of Shaddad ibn aws(r.a) Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Aalihi Wa Sallam said “Sayyidul Istighfar is:اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتَ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
‘O Allaah, You are my Lord, no one has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide to your covenant and promise as best as I can, I take refuge in you from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily no one can forgive sin except you.’
Then Prophet peace upon him continued "“If person recites this during the day with strong faith in it and dies on the same day before the sunset, he will be among the people of Paradise and if somebody recites it at night with strong faith in it and dies before sunrise he will be among the people of Paradise.”