Supplications for Allah’s Forgiveness

Duā’ Seeking Allāh’s Forgiveness and Mercy

In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;

All the praise and Thanks are due to Allāh, the Lord of the al-ā’lamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu alayhi wa sallam, is His Messenger.

Without Allāh Forgiveness and Mercy man would be a complete loser,  in the Hereafter. Allāh is the All-Forgiving and Most Merciful.  Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam sought Allah’s Forgiveness and Mercy every day. Seeking for forgiveness is a general type of dzikir which a person should be saying all the time and it does not matter what the person chooses for himself of what he thinks is appropriate for praying for forgiveness and hoping for forgiveness from his Lord, even if it is not narrated in hadiths. But, it is better to recite from the Sunnāh as it is more than sufficient

Allāh, the Exalted, says:

• "And ask forgiveness for your sin...'' [Muhammad, 47:19]
• "And seek the forgiveness of Allāh. Certainly, Allāh is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'' [An-Nisā’ 4:106]
• "And declare the freedom of your Rabb from imperfection beginning with His praise, and ask His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives.'' [Al-Nasr, 110:3]
• "For Al-Muttaqun (the pious) there are Gardens (Jannah) with their Rabb, underneath which rivers flow. Therein (is the) eternal (home) and Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives). And Allāh will be pleased with them. And Allāh is All-Seer of the (His) slaves. Those who say: `Our Rabb! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire. (They are) those who are patient, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allāh. Those who spend (give the Zakat and alms in the way of Allāh) and those who pray and beg Allāh’s Pardon in the last hours of the night.'' [Al-‘Imran, 3:15-17]
• "And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allāh’s forgiveness, he will find Allāh Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'' [An-Nisā’, 4:110]
• "And Allāh would not punish them while you (Muhammad (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allāh’s) forgiveness.'' [Al-Anfal, 8:33]
•  "And those who, when they have committed Fahishah (illegal sexual intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allāh and ask forgiveness for their sins; - and none can forgive sins but Allāh - and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know.'' [Al-‘Imran, 3:135] 

 

Al-Nu’man ibn Bashīr (radiallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Duā’ is worship.” Then he (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) recited: “And your Lord said: Invoke Me I will respond to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” (Ghafir, 40:60). [At-Tirmidzi (3372)]

Following are some of the comprehensive duā’s from Al-Qurān and Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam). The Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said “O people repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness, for I repent to Allah and ask Him for forgiveness one hundred times a day” [Ahmad (17829)]

1. Ibn Mas`ud (radiallāhu`anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh  (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "He who says: `Astaghfir ullāh-[al ‘adzīm], alladzi la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayyumu, wa atubu ilaih (I seek the forgiveness of Allāh , [devoid of imperfection], with whose Name there is no true god except Allāh , the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance),' his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allāh ).'' [Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidzi and Al-Hakim (on conditions of Al-Bukhari and Muslim for accepting Hadith. Thawban (radiallāhu`anhu) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) finished his Salat, he would seek forgiveness three times [by saying, `Astaghfirullāh' (3 times)] and then he would say: "Allāhumma Antas-Salāmu, wa minkas-Salāmu, tabarakta Ya Dzal-Jalali wal-Ikram. (O Allah! You are the Bestower of security and security comes from You; Blessed are You. O Possessor of glory and honour).'' Imam Al-Awza`i (one of the sub-narrators) of this Hadith was asked: "How forgiveness should be sought?'' He replied: "I say: Astaghfirullāh, Astaghfirullāh (I seek forgiveness from Allah. I seek forgiveness from Allah).'' [Muslim]. 

2. “Rabbanâ dzolamnâ anfusanâ wain lam taghfir lanâ lanaku nanna minal khāsirīn. (Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.)" [Al-`Araf, 7:23]

3.A‘aishah (radiallāhu`anha) reported: The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to recite frequently in his Ruku’ and Sujud: "Subhanāk-Allāhumma, Rabbana wa bihamdika.  Allāhum-maghfir li” (O Allāh! You are free from imperfection and I begin with praising You. Forgive my sins). [Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] The Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “The closest that a person is to his Lord is when he is sujūd, so say a great deal of duā’ then.” [Narrated by Muslim, 482]

3. Abdullah Ibn ‘Umar (radiallahu’anhu) reported, who said:  “ In one of the sitting of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) we could count he said a hundred times, before he would get up [saying]: ‘Rabb ighfir li wa tubb ‘alayya innaka antal-tawwābur-rahīm (O Allah, forgive me and accept my repentance, for You are the Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful)’” [Abu Dawud (1516) and At-Tirmidzi (3434) and others: Sahih]

 

3.1 Rabbij’alni muqimassalāti wamin zurritati, rabbana wataqabbal du ‘ā. Rabbanagh firli waliwallidaiya walilmu’mini nayau ma yaqu mulhisâb. (My Lord, make me an establisher of solat, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication.Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.)" [Ibrahim, 14:40-41]

 3.2 Allāhummaghfirlana zunubanâ waliwalidaina warhamhum Kama Rabbawna singhara, wali Jami ‘il Mu’minina wal Mu’minati wal Muslimina wal Muslimati al ahya iminhum wal amwāt. Birahmatika Ya arhamar rāhimīn. (Oh Allah, Forgive us our sins, both of our parents, bless them as they protected us since childhood, same goes for all Muslimin, Muslimat, Mukminin, Mukminat  that are alive and died by your Grace, O Allah,  Lord the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate.)

4. The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) taught Abu Bakar As-Siddiq (radiallāhu`anhu) a Duā’ Seeking Allāh’s Forgiveness and Mercy to be Recited in the Solāh (after the Tashahhud):“Allāhummainni zalam tunafsi zulmankathīran (O Allāh, I have wronged myself greatly,) Wala yaghfirul dzunubailla anta,(And only You who could forgive.) Faghfirli maghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni,(Grant me forgiveness and have mercy on me,)Innaka antal-Ghafur ar-Rahīm(For you are the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful)” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri]

5. The Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) has taught us the best wording of all for praying for forgiveness: It was narrated from Shaddad Ibn ‘Aus (radiallāhu’anhu) from the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam): “The best of prayers for forgiveness is:  ‘Allāhumma anta rabbi lā ilāha illa anta, (O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You.) Khalaqtani waana ‘abduka waana ‘ala ‘ahdika wawa’dika mastata’tu. (You have created me and I am Your slave and I am keeping my promise and covenant to You as much as I can.)A’udzu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, (I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I do.)Abu ’ulaka bini’matika ‘alaiya wa abu’ulaka bidzanbi, (I acknowledge Your blessing and I acknowledge my sin,) Faghfir li fainnahu lāyaghfiral-dzunuba illa anta. (So forgive me, for there is none who can forgive sin except You).”

He (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: “Whoever says this during the day, believing in it firmly, and dies on that day before evening comes, he will be one of the people of Paradise, and whoever says it at night, believing firmly in it, and dies before morning comes, he will be one of the people of Paradise.”[Narrated by al-Bukhāri (6306)]

6. Ibn `Abbas (radiallāhu`anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate:  "Allāhumma laka aslamtu, wa bika amantu, wa `alaika tawakkaltu (O Allah! To You I submit, Unto You I affirm my faith, in You I repose my trust)Wa ilaika anabtu, wa bika khasamtu, wa ilaika hakamtu. (Unto You I turn in repentance and with Your Help I contend my adversaries and from You I seek judgement.)Faghfir li ma qaddamtu, wa ma akh-khartu, wa ma asrartu wa ma a`lantu, (O Allah! Grant me forgiveness for the faults which I made in past and those ones I may commit in the future those which I committed secretly or openly)Antal-Muqaddimu, wa Antal-Mu`akhkhiru, (You Alone send whomever You will to Jannah, and You Alone send whomever You will to Hell-fire.)Lā ilāha illa Anta. Lā hawla wa la quwwata illa billāh (There is none worthy of worship except You. There is no strength to resist evil and no power to do good except through Allāh).'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] 

6.1.`Abdullah bin Mas`ud (radiallahu’anhu) reported: The Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate:"Allahumma inni as'alukal-hudâ, wat-tuqâ, wal-`afâfa wal-ghina” (O Allah! I beseech You for Guidance, Piety, Chastity and Contentment).''[Muslim] Mu’adz bin Jabal (radiallahu’anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam) once held him by the hand and said: “O Mu’adz! I swear by Allāh that I love you. I advise you not to miss supplicating after every solah saying: ‘Allāhumma a ‘inni `alā dzikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni   ‘ibadatika.’(O Allāh! Assist me in mentioning You, expressing gratitude to You, and worshiping You in the finest manner).”[Abu Dawud; An-Nasa'ie]

7. Rabbanā innna samia’na munadīyan yuna dī lil imâna in āminu birabbikum fa âmannâ., Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one (Muhammad s.a.w) calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed’.Rabbana faghfirlana zunubana wakaffir ‘anna sayyiatina watawaffana ma’al abrâr. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of righteousness along with Al-Abrar (those who are obedient to Allah and follow strictly His Orders). Rabbana ma waatina ma wa’attana ‘ala rusulika wala tuhzina yawmal qiyâmah, Innakalâ tuhlifulmî’ād  (Our Lord! Grant us what You promised unto us through Your Messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break (Your) Promise.)[Al-‘Imran, 3:193-194]

7.1"Rabbana lā tuâkhizna innasīna awahtha’na; (Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred).Rabbana walatahmil a’laina isrankama hamaltaltahu a’lalazi namin qablina; Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden likes that which You laid upon those before us. Rabbana walatuhammilna ma lataqata lanâbih, wa’fu’annā wa’firlanā warhamnā, antamawlâna fansurna ‘alalqawmil kâfirīn” 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.) [Al-Baqarah, 2:286]

7.2. Rasulullah (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said to a man: “What do you say when you pray?” He said: “I recite the Tashahhud, then I say:  “Allāhumma inni as’aluka[ ridha kawal]-jannah wa a’udzu bika minan-nār” (O Allāh, I ask You for [redha and] Paradise and seek refuge in You from the Fire).but cannot murmur like you and like Mu’adz.” The Prophet (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) said: “It is about them that we were murmuring.” [Narrated by Abu Dawud, 792: sahih] 

7.3 It was narrated that Anas bin Mālik (radiallāhu`anhu) said: The Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa Sallam) said:  “Whoever asks Allāh for Paradise, “Allāhumma inni as’aluka [ridha ka w] al-jannah”, (O Allāh, I ask Your redha and Paradise) - Three times, Paradise will say, ‘O Allāh, admit him to Paradise. ’Whoever seeks protection from the Fire, “Allāhumma ajirni minan-nār” (O Allāh, protect me from the Fire) three times, Hell will say, ‘O Allāh, protect him from the Fire.’” [Narrated by al-Tirmidzi, 2572; Ibn Majah, 4340: sahih].

7.4 ‘Aishah (radiallahu ‘anha) reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger (sallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Lailatul-Qadar, what should I say during it?” And he instructed her to say ‘Allāhumma innaka ‘afuw wun karim tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘añna, [Wa ‘an walidina wa ‘an jami‘il Muslimina wal muslimat Mu’minina wal Mu’minât, Al ahyâ iminhum wal amwāt]. Birahmatika Ya arhamar rāhimīn.].  (O Allah! Thou are forgiving, and Thou love forgiveness. So forgive us, and our parents, Muslim and Muslimat, [Mu’minin and Mu’minat, dead and alive with Thou mercy] Thou are most Gracious and the Merciful]). [Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Mājah, and At-Tirmidzi]

8."Rabbana ātina min ladunka rahmah wahaiyi’lana amrîna rasyada” (Our Lord! Bestow on us Mercy from Yourself, and Facilitate for us our affair in the Right Way!) [Al-Kahfi, 18:10] 

8.1 Rabbana hablana min azwajina wa zurriyyatina qurrata ‘āyunn, waja‘ālna lilmuttaqī naimama (Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous.) [Al-Furqān, 25:74]

8.2  Anas ibn Mālik (radiallahu’anhu) who said, “The supplication most often recited by the Prophet (Sallallāhu 'alaihi wa sallam):  ‘Allāhumma âtina fid duñya Hasanah, wa fil âkhirati Hasanah, wa qina `âdzābânnâr (O Our Rabb! Bestow upon us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the punishment of the Fire).’”  (Al-Baqarah 2:201)  [Al-Bukhāri, Muslim, Tarmidzi] This duā’ includes all the goodness in Dunya, Hereafter and forgiveness from punishment of fire. Imām Tarmidzi (rahimullāh) said: “Hasanah is very comprehensive and includes in all kinds of good and benefits of this world and of the Hereafter. Good health, wealth and satisfaction of the world and good status in Jannah, forgiveness from sins and Allah’s bounties and favours in both worlds are included in this duā’” [Jāmi’ At-Tarmidzi]

Wallahu’alam