Dua of Repentance

The Prophet ﷺ — whose past and future faults were forgiven — sought Allah's forgiveness more than seventy times a day, and in another narration a hundred. What then of those beneath him?

Repentance is not a phrase. It is leaving the sin, regretting what passed, and resolving not to return. If the sin involved another person's right, a fourth is added: returning what is owed.

The greatest formula is Sayyid al-Istighfar: whoever says it with certainty in the evening and dies that night enters Paradise, and likewise in the morning.

The master of seeking forgiveness

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtani wa ana 'abduk, wa ana 'ala 'ahdika wa wa'dika mastata't, a'udhu bika min sharri ma sana't, abu'u laka bini'matika 'alayy, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li fa-innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa ant.

O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I abide by Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me — for none forgives sins but You.

Plain text (no diacritics)

اللهم أنت ربي لا إله إلا أنت، خلقتني وأنا عبدك، وأنا على عهدك ووعدك ما استطعت، أعوذ بك من شر ما صنعت، أبوء لك بنعمتك علي، وأبوء بذنبي فاغفر لي فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت

For one who has wronged himself

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathira, wa la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa ant, faghfir li maghfiratan min 'indik, warhamni innaka antal-Ghafurur-Rahim.

O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself, and none forgives sins but You. So forgive me with forgiveness from Yourself, and have mercy on me — You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Plain text (no diacritics)

اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلما كثيرا، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك، وارحمني إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم

Repeated istighfar 100 times

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh.

I seek Allah's forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance.

Plain text (no diacritics)

أستغفر الله وأتوب إليه

When

At all times, especially before dawn: 'and in the hours before dawn they would seek forgiveness'.
Sayyid al-Istighfar: morning and evening.
After the prayers: the Prophet ﷺ would seek forgiveness three times on finishing.

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Common questions

What is Sayyid al-Istighfar?

'O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant…' (al-Bukhari, from Shaddad ibn Aws).

What are the conditions of repentance?

Leaving the sin, regretting it, and resolving not to return — plus restoring the right if another person was wronged.