Seeking forgiveness from Allah is one of the most powerful acts of worship in Islam. Istighfar, the act of asking for Allah’s pardon, cleanses the heart, brings peace, and draws us closer to Him. Below are some of the most authentic and effective Istighfar duas that you can recite to seek Allah’s forgiveness sincerely.
Syed-ul- Istighfar
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
Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa 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 ‘alayya, wa abu’u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.
O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon.
Shaddad bin Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul- Istighfar) is to say:
'Allahumma Anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa 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 'alayya, wa abu'u bidhanbi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta.
O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon.
He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah.
[Al-Bukhari].
Powerful Istighfar Dua of the Mighty Forgiveness – Astaghfirullah al-Azim
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ القَيّوُمُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيهِ
Astaghfirallaha al-azim alladhi la ilaha illa huwa al-hayyul-Qayyum wa atubu ilayh.
I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none worthy of worship except Him, the Living, the Eternal, and I repent to Him.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Whoever says:
Astaghfirullāha ‘l-'Aẓīm alladhi lā ilāha illā huwa ‘l-ḥayyul-Qayyūm wa atūbu ilayh.
I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none worthy of worship except Him, the Living, the Eternal,
and I repent to Him,
Allah will forgive him even if he has deserted the army's ranks.
Reference:
Abu Dawud 2/85, At-Tirmidhi 5/569, and Al-Hakim who declared it authentic and Ath-Thahabi agreed with him 1/511. Al-Albani graded it authentic in Sahih At-Tirmidhi 3/182.
Prophet Yunus’ Powerful Dua of Repentance – La ilaha illa anta subhanaka
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.
There is none worthy of worship except You, Glory to You, Indeed, I have been of the transgressors.
Ibrahim bin Muhammad bin Sa`d narrated from his father, from Sa`d that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“The supplication of Dhun-Nun (Prophet Yunus) when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale was:
‘There is none worthy of worship except You, Glory to You, Indeed, I have been of the transgressors.
(La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin.)’
So indeed, no Muslim man supplicates with it for anything, ever, except Allah responds to him.”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3505
Dua for Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness – Taught to Abu Bakr by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) – Allahumma Inni Zalamtu Nafsi
اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلمًا كثيرًا، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك، وارحمني، إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم
Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh- dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min ‘indika, warhamni, innaka Antal-Ghafur-ur-Rahim.
O Allah! I have considerably wronged myself. There is none to forgive the sins but You. So grant me pardon and have mercy on me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.
Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I requested the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to teach me a supplication which I could recite in my Salat (prayer). Thereupon he said, "Recite:
'Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh- dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min 'indika, warhamni, innaka Antal-Ghafur-ur-Rahim
O Allah! I have considerably wronged myself. There is none to forgive the sins but You. So grant me pardon and have mercy on me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate."'
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Dua of the Prophet for Forgiveness and Repentance – Rabbighfirli wa tub alayya
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَتُبْ عَلَىَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
Rabbighfirli wa tub `alayya innaka Antat-Tawwabur-Rahim.
My Rubb! Forgive me and pardon me. Indeed, You are the Oft-Returning with compassion and Ever Merciful.
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
We counted Messenger's saying a hundred times during one single sitting:
Rabbighfirli wa tub `alayya innaka Antat-Tawwabur-Rahim. (My Rubb! Forgive me and pardon me. Indeed, You are the Oft-Returning with compassion and Ever Merciful."
[Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].
Quranic Dua for Forgiveness and Mercy – Al-Mu’minun Surah 23:118
رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Rabbi ghfir warham wa anta khayrur-rahimin.
My Rubb! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of those who show mercy.
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of those who show mercy.”
23:118
Prophet Ibrahim’s Quranic Dua for Forgiveness – Ibrahim Surah 14:41
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbana ighfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu’mineena yawma yaqumul-hisab.
O our Lord! cover us with Thy Forgiveness – me, my parents, and all Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!
"O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness - me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!
14:41
Seeking forgiveness is at the heart of a Muslim’s relationship with Allah. These seven powerful Istighfar duas—taught by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), revealed in the Qur’an, and practiced by the Prophets and the Companions—remind us of our constant need for Allah’s mercy and pardon.
Whether it is the comprehensive Sayyidul Istighfar, the heartfelt plea of Prophet Yunus (عليه السلام), or the humble prayer of Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام), each supplication opens a door to forgiveness, peace, and closeness to Allah.
By reciting these duas regularly with sincerity, humility, and hope, we cleanse our hearts, strengthen our faith, and prepare ourselves for the ultimate success—the mercy and forgiveness of Allah on the Day of Judgment.
May Allah make us among those who frequently seek His forgiveness and who are granted His endless mercy in this life and the next.