Allah, the Exalted, is the Most Forgiving, and in His infinite mercy, has provided us pathways to seek His pardon. This profound mercy is evident in numerous duas (supplications), including those recited by prophets as revealed in the Holy Quran.
Dua for forgiveness | Sayyidul Istighfar
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say (the following dua):
اللهم أَنْتَ رَبي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَني وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَما استَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ ما صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبي فَاغْفِرْ لي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ
Transliteration: “Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ‘ala ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, A’udhu bika min Sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u Laka bini’matika ‘alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.”
Translation: “O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshiped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.”
Dua by Prophet Adam ^(PBUH)^ and Hawwa (Eve)
As stated in the Quran, after Prophet Adam ^(PBUH)^ and Hawwa committed the first sin, they pleaded for Allah’s forgiveness:
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Transliteration: “Rabbana zalamna anfusana wa il lam taghfir lana wa tarhamna lana kunan minal-khasireen.”
Translation: “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” [Quran: Al A’raf 7:23]
Dua by Prophet Yunus ^(PBUH)^
Prophet Yunus’s ^(PBUH)^ prayer while he was in the belly of the whale is another poignant example of asking Allah for forgiveness:
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ
أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration: “Wa thannooni ith thahaba mughadiban fathanna an lan naqdira AAalayhi fanada fee aththulumati an la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina aththalimeen”
Translation: “And [remember] the Man of the Fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.'” [Quran: Al Anbiya 21:87]
These duas echo across time, encapsulating the despair, hope, and profound sense of repentance that accompanies the plea for divine forgiveness. We, too, can utilize these prophetic words when sincerely seeking the forgiveness of Allah in our prayers.
Dua by Prophet Musa ^(PBUH)^ for Allah’s Forgiveness
In the Holy Quran, we find a heartfelt supplication for forgiveness spoken by Prophet Musa ^(PBUH)^. This prayer was made in the aftermath of an unintentional act, leading to a man’s death:
رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي
Transliteration: “Rabbi inni zalamtu nafsi faghfir li”
Translation: “My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.” [Quran: Al-Qasas 28:16] [ref]
Upon this plea, it is revealed that Allah forgave him. This event is a powerful reminder that even when we falter, Allah’s mercy is near – available for those who sincerely repent.
Dua by Prophet Daud (PBUH) for Allah’s Forgiveness
One of the heartfelt pleas for Divine Mercy and forgiveness was presented by Prophet Daud (PBUH) in a moment of remorsefulness. His plea is preserved in the Holy Quran:
قال رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَهَبْ لِي مُلْكًا لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ مِنْ بَعْدِي ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Transliteration: “Rabbi ighfir li wahab li mulkan la yanbaghi li-ahadin min baAAdi innaka anta alwahhab”
Translation: “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower.” [Quran: Sad 38:35]
Endowed with a kingdom that none after him would possess, Prophet Daud (PBUH) never forgot to remain humble, continually seeking the forgiveness of his Lord.
Relating to these holy prophecies and their duas is a comfort blanket sown with the threads of relief, forgiveness, and hope. Make these supplications your echo in times of remorse and reflection, and learn that you are never too lost or too far to return to the forgiving embrace of Allah s.w.t.
Duas for forgiveness from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) sourced from the Hadiths:
Prayer After Making Mistakes
Here is another dua recited by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) that Muslims can use when seeking forgiveness after realizing a mistake:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيهِ.
Transliteration: “Astaghfirullah alladhee la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qayyoomu wa atoobu ilayh.”
Translation: “I seek the forgiveness of Allah, besides whom there is none worthy of worship, the Living, the Eternal, and I turn towards Him in repentance.”