وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous
(Surah Al-Imran, Quran 3:133)
Istaghfar, derived from the Arabic root “غَفَرَ” (ghafara), means “to cover” or “seek forgiveness”. Istaghfar is a hope for a believer that Allah is so merciful that he will not leave him alone even if he commits a greater sin.
What is Istaghfar?
Istaghfar is the act of seeking forgiveness from Allah for one’s sins and weakness. It is not just a dhikhr which one says verbally but involves guilt, a commitment to avoid future wrongdoings, and a proactive effort to correct his mistakes.
The Importance of Istighfar in Islam
Quranic References
The Quran emphasizes the significance of Istaghfar in several verses. Allah commands believers to seek forgiveness, promising His mercy and blessings in return. For instance:
- Surah Al-Baqarah (2:199) states:
ثُمَّ أَفِيضُوا۟ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَفَاضَ ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ١٩٩
“Then depart from the place from where [all] the people depart and ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
- Surah Hud (11:52) encourages seeking forgiveness to receive blessings:
وَيَـٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ ٥٢
“And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength.”
Hadith References
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stressed the importance of Istighfar, practicing it extensively himself despite being sinless. In one Hadith, he stated, “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day” (Sahih Bukhari).
`Abdullah bin `Amr said that Abu Bakr said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Teach me an invocation so that I may invoke (Allah) with it in my prayer. He told me to say:
«قُلْ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيم»
(O Allah! I have done great injustice to myself and none except You forgives sins, so please forgive me and be merciful to me as You are the Forgiver, the Merciful).)
Istaghfar is integrated into daily Muslim life through prayers and supplications. Muslims are encouraged to seek forgiveness during the five daily prayers, especially in the quiet moments of reflection after each prayer.
Benefits of Astaghfar
Cleansing of Sins
Istaghfar serves as a means to cleanse oneself of sins, purifying the soul and bringing it closer to Allah. It is a spiritual renewal, helping believers maintain their faith and righteousness.
Closeness to Allah
Regularly seeking forgiveness strengthens a believer’s relationship with Allah, fostering a sense of divine closeness and personal accountability.
Inner Peace and Tranquility
Practicing Istaghfar promotes inner peace and emotional stability. The act of seeking forgiveness alleviates feelings of guilt and remorse, replacing them with tranquility and a clear conscience.
Istaghfar is associated with increased provisions and blessings. Surah Nuh (71:10-12) illustrates this:
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا (١٠) يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا( ١١) وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَـٰرًۭا (١٢)
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.”
Protection from Calamities
Seeking forgiveness acts as a shield against difficulties and disasters. It is believed that Istaghfar brings divine protection and relief from worldly hardships.
Humility and Self-Awareness
Istaghfar fosters humility and self-awareness, reminding believers of their fallibility and dependence on Allah’s mercy.
Personal Growth and Development
The practice encourages personal and spiritual growth, motivating individuals to strive for betterment and to rectify their mistakes.
Improved Relationships
Istaghfar improves interpersonal relationships by promoting forgiveness and understanding. It helps in mending broken relationships and fostering community harmony.
Forgiveness and Compassion
Regular practice of Istaghfar encourages a culture of forgiveness and compassion within the Muslim community, leading to a more empathetic and supportive environment.
Promise of Allah’s Mercy
Allah promises mercy and forgiveness to those who sincerely seek it. This assurance is a cornerstone of Islamic faith, offering hope and comfort to believers.
How to Perform Istaghfar
There are 10 steps to ask forgiveness with true intention:
- Realization:
Realization that this certain act is a sin and it has serious consequences:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Verily, when the slave commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. When he desists, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he sins again, it increases until it covers his heart. And that is the ‘rān’ (rust) which Allah mentioned: ‘No indeed! Rather what they have been doing has rusted their hearts (83:14).’” (Tirmidhī)
- Don’t consider any sin harmless or small:
After realizing the sin, it is important to keep in mind that no sin is allowed because many small sins can combine and become heavy on the day of Judgement.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Beware of sins which are deemed as insignificant because indeed they gather on a person until they destroy him.” (Ahmad)
‘Don’t look at any sin as being insignificant. Rather, look at the greatness of the One you disobeyed.’ (Bilāl ibn Sa’īd raḥimahullāh)
- Stop sinning and make commitment from yourself that you will never commit it again
Al-Fudhayl (raḥimahullāh) said: ‘Asking for forgiveness without abandoning sin is the repentance of liars.’
- Guilty over your sin and ask forgiveness by crying:
Allah loves the believer who keeps remembering him and cry while making dua.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Regret is repentance.” (Ibn Mājah)
Ibn al-Qayyim (raḥimahullāh) said: ‘The pleasure one feels at sinning is more harmful than the sin itself. A believer never enjoys the fruit of his sins, but rather feels a remorseful ache within him. If this ceases to occur, and the joy of sinning overpowers any feeling of remorse, then that is a sign of a dead heart.
- Ask forgiveness by offering prayer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a servant commits a sin, and he performs wudhū well, and then stands and prays two rak‘ahs, and asks forgiveness from Allah, Allah forgives him.” (Abū Dāwūd)
- To rectify your sin, do some good deed
Allah says: “Indeed good deeds erase bad deeds.” (11:114)
- Ask forgiveness in Tahajjud prayer
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Our Lord – Glorified and Exalted is He – descends every night to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains and says: ‘Who will call upon Me, that I may answer Him? Who will ask of Me, that I may give him? Who will seek My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?’” (Bukhārī)
- Ask Istaghfar day and night
Keep reciting dhikr of Istaghfar while working, or resting
- Ask forgiveness constantly
Allah says: “Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” (2:222)
- Pray for forgiveness for others
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever seeks forgiveness for every male and female believer, Allah will record a good deed for him for every male and female believer.” (Tabarānī)
The Role of Istaghfar in Repentance (Tawbah)
Connection to Tawbah
Istaghfar is a key component of Tawbah (repentance). Tawbah involves recognizing one’s sins, feeling remorse, seeking forgiveness, and resolving not to repeat the sin.
Conditions of Tawbah
The conditions for sincere Tawbah include genuine remorse, immediate cessation of the sin, a firm intention to avoid the sin in the future, and if applicable, making amends to those wronged.
Istaghfar in the Lives of Prophets
Prophet Adam (AS)
After eating from the forbidden tree, Prophet Adam (AS) sought forgiveness, setting a precedent for all humanity.
Prophet Yunus (AS)
Prophet Yunus (AS) supplicated for forgiveness inside the whale’s belly, demonstrating the power of sincere repentance.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) regularly practiced Istaghfar, emphasizing its importance and setting an example for his followers.
Best Times to Ask Istaghfar
While Istaghfar can be performed at any time, there are certain times that hold special significance for seeking Allah’s forgiveness, with the pre-dawn period (Tahajjud) being particularly noteworthy. This time is highlighted in the Quran and Hadith as a blessed period for supplication and seeking forgiveness. Allah mentions in Surah Al-Dhariyat (51:17-18), “They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn, they would ask forgiveness.” This verse emphasizes the virtue of rising in the night for worship and Istaghfar. Additionally, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stated, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes down every night to the nearest heaven during the last third of the night, and He says: ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demands anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him? Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?'” (Sahih Bukhari). These moments of tranquility before dawn are considered the best times for Istaghfar, as they are filled with divine mercy and the promise of Allah’s response to sincere supplications.
Contemporary Relevance of Istaghfar
Mental Health and Well-being
Istaghfar positively impacts mental health, providing emotional relief and helping individuals cope with stress and anxiety.
Coping with Modern Challenges
In the face of modern challenges, Istaghfar serves as a spiritual tool for resilience and guidance, helping believers navigate life’s complexities.
Conclusion
Istaghfar is a profound practice with numerous spiritual, material, and social benefits. It fosters humility, personal growth, and divine closeness while offering protection and blessings. By incorporating Istaghfar into daily life, believers can experience its transformative power and Allah’s boundless mercy. Embracing Istaghfar not only enriches one’s spiritual journey but also enhances overall well-being and community harmony.
