Islamic Prayers Asking Forgiveness From Allah: All human beings make mistakes, and Muslims understand that forgiveness from Allah requires that they recognize the error, take steps to rectify any harm they have caused, and actively beseech Allah to forgive their sins. In Quran, the word “Allah is Most Merciful” is repeated many times. In religion Islam, anyone who has committed sin can ask forgiveness directly from Lord, there is no one between Allah and the one who is asking forgiveness from Him.
Repentance in Islam: Allah says: “God loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and He loves those who keep themselves pure.” From this verse, we can conclude that if someone asked forgiveness with repentance then Allah will love him/her and surely He will forgive him/her but there is one condition and that is he/she should not commit that sin or mistake again.
Personal pleas to Allah, known as ‘du’a,’ can include requests for mercy. Muslims may ask forgiveness from Allah using any words in any language, but the following personal prayers (du’a) from Islamic tradition are the most common:
Prayer To Allah For Forgiveness
- فَاغْفِرْلِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
— faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Ant(a).
— Forgive me, For there is none who may forgive sins but You. (Al-Bukhari Book 20 Hadith 1875)1875) - وَمَاكَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن قَالُوا۟ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَافِىٓ أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Wa maa kaana qawlahum illaa an qaaloo
Rabbanagh fir lanaa zunoobanaa wa israafanaa feee amirnaa wa sabbit aqdaamanaa
wansurnaa ‘alal qawmil kaafireenAll that they said was: “Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything We may have done that transgressed our duty: Establish our feet firmly, and help us against those that resist Faith.” (Surah Al Imran Chapter 3, Verse 147)
- أَعُوذُبِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ
a`udhubika min sharri ma sana`t(u)
I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. -
أَبُوءُلَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي
abu’ulaka bini`matika `alayya, wa abu’u bidhanbi(y).
I admit to Your blessings upon me, and I admit to my misdeeds.
Islamic Prayers Asking Forgiveness From Allah
Du’a From the Quran:
- “Waqur rabbighfir warham wa’anta khayrur rahimeen.”
“So say, “Our Lord! Grant us forgiveness and mercy! For You are the Best of those who show mercy.”
Quran 23:118 - “Rabbi inni zalamto nafsi faghfirli.”
“Oh my Lord, I have indeed wronged my soul!”
Quran 28:16 - “Rabbana innana amanna faghfir lana zonoobana waqina ‘athaban nar.”
“Our Lord! We have indeed believed. Forgive us our sins and save us from the agony of the Fire.”
Quran 3:16 - “Rabbana latu akhitna in nasina akhta’na rabbana wala tahmil ‘alayna isran kama hamaltaho ‘alal lathina min qablina. Rabbana wala tohammilna mala taqata lana beh wa’fo’anna waghfir lana warhamna anta maolana fansorna ‘alal qawmil kafireen.”
- “Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Protector. Help us against those who stand against faith.”
Quran 2:286
Du’a From the Sunnah:
“Astagh firol lahal-lathi la ilaha illa howal hayyal qayyoma w’atooba ilayh.”
“I seek forgiveness from Allah. There is no deity but Him, the Living, the Eternal. And I repent unto Him.” (It is recommended to repeat this three times.)
“Subhanakal lahomma wabihamdik. Ash-hado alla-ilaha-illa ant. Astaghfiroka w’atoobo-ilayk.”
“Glory be to You, Oh Allah, and all praise! I testify that there is no deity but You. I seek Your forgiveness and to You I do repent.” (It is recommended to repeat this three times.)
Forgiveness from the Sunnah of Prophet (ﷺ)
Our beloved Prophet (SAW) was so kind and forgiving with all no matter he is a believer or non-believer. We have so many examples from the life of Prophet (ﷺ) about forgiving others and show kindness to even those who were so rude to Him. Some of the examples from the life of Holy Prophet (SAW) are mentioned below:
Abu Hurairah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, “I swear by Allah that I seek Allah’s Pardon and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” (Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) said: “O people! Ask for the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him as I ask for the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him one hundred times a day.”
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Be merciful to others and you will receive mercy. Forgive others and Allah will forgive you”
Abu Abdullah Al-Khadali reported: I asked Aisha about the character of the Messenger of Allah Prophet (SAW). Aisha said: “The Prophet was not indecent, he was not obscene, he would not shout in the markets, and he would not respond to an evil deed with an evil deed, but rather he would pardon and overlook.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi)
One example of Muhammad’s practice of forgiveness can be found in the Hadith, as follows: “The Prophet (SAW) was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him, abused him and hit him with stones. He left the city humiliated and wounded. When he took shelter under a tree, the angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the people of Ta’if because of their sin of maltreating their Prophet. Muhammad (SAW) prayed to Allah to save the people of Ta’if because what they did was out of their ignorance.”
Aisha (R.A) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH), said: “O Allah, You are forgiving and generous. You love to forgive.”(Sunan At-Tirmidhi)