129. Repentance and seeking forgiveness

Dua 261

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "By Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah, and repent to Him more than seventy times in a day.

Reference: Al-Bukhari, cf. Al-Asqalani, Fathul-Bari 11/101.

Dua 262

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "O people, repent to Allah, for I verily repent to Him one hundred times a day.

Reference: Muslim 4/2076.

Dua 263

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظيمَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ القَيّوُمُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيهِ

'Astaghfirullaahal-'Adheemal-lathee laa 'ilaaha 'illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoomu wa 'atoobu 'ilayhi.

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: Whoever says: 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-Tirmithi 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-Tirmithi 3/182. See also Jami'ul-'Usool li-'Ahdaith Ar-Rasool 4/ 389-90 checked by Al-Arna'ut.

Dua 264

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "The closest that the Lord comes to the slave is in the last portion of the night. So, if you are able to be among those who remember Allah in this hour, then be among them."

Reference: At-Tirmithi, An-Nasa'i 1/279 and Al-Hakim. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/183, and Jdmi'ul-'Usool with Al-Arna'ut's checking 4/144.

Dua 265

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "The closest that the slave comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating, so invoke Allah much (in prostration)."

Reference: Muslim 1/350.

Dua 266

Allah's Messenger (SAW) said: "It is a heavy thing for my heart if I do not seek Allah's forgiveness a hundred times a day."

Reference: Muslim 4/2075. Ibn 'Athir explains that the Prophet (SAW) was always vigilant in his remembrance and drawing near to Allah, and if he forgot to do any of what he normally did from time to time, or it slipped his mind, he felt as if he had wronged himself and so he would begin to seek the forgiveness of Allah. See Jami'ul-'Usool 4/386.

Dua 284

رَبَّنَا وَاجْعَلْنَا مُسْلِمَيْنِ لَكَ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِنَا أُمَّةً مُّسْلِمَةً لَّكَ وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Rabbanā wa j`alnā Muslimayni laka wa min Dhurrīyatinā 'ummatan Muslimatan laka wa 'arinā manāsikanā wa tub `alaynā 'innaka 'anta t-Tawwābu r-Raĥīm

Prayer of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and Prophet Ismail (Ishmael) (peace be upon them both) to Allah:

"Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our (pilgrimage) rites, and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful."

Reference: Quran, Surah 2, Ayat 128

Dua 291

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلَتْ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Rabbanā 'āmannā bimā 'anzalta wa ttaba`nā r-Rasula fāktubnā ma`a sh-Shāhidin

Prayer disciples of the Prophet Isa (Jesus) (peace be upon him) to Allah:

"Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger; so write us down among those who bear witness."

Reference: Quran, Surah 3, Ayat 53

Dua 294

193. رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الأبْرَارِ
194. رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلاَ تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لاَ تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ

193.Rabbanā 'innanā Sami`nā Munādiān yunādi lil'imāni 'an 'āminu birabbikum fa'āmannā Rabbanā fāghfir lanā Dhunubanā wa kaffir `annā Sayyi'ātinā wa tawaffanā ma`a l-'Abrār
194. Rabbanā wa 'ātinā mā wa`adtanā `ala Rusulika wa Lā tukhzinā Yawma l-Qiyāmati 'innaka Lā tukhlifu l-Mi`ād

193. "Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one (Muhammad) calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of righteousness along with righteous.
194. "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."

Reference: Quran, Surah 3, Ayats 193-194

Dua 297

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Rabbanā Zalamnā 'anfusanā wa 'in lam taghfir lanā wa tarhamnā lanakunanna mina l-Khāsirin

"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."

Reference: Quran, Surah 7, Ayat 23

Dua 302

رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَإِلاَّ تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

Rabbi 'inni 'a`udhu bika 'an 'as'alaka Mā laysa li bihi `ilmun wa 'illā taghfir li wa tarhamni 'akun mina l-Khāsirin

Prayer of the Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him) to Allah:
"O my Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have Mercy on me, I would indeed be one of the losers."

Reference: Quran, Surah 11, Ayat 47

Dua 304

وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلاَّ مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّيَ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

wa mā 'ubarri'u nafsi 'inna n-Nafsa la'ammāratun bis-Su'i 'illā mā Rahima Rabbi 'inna Rabbi Ghafurun Rahim

The wife of a noble man, who was trying to seduce the Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) said:
"And I free not myself (from the blame). Verily, the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Reference: Quran, Surah 12, Ayat 53

Dua 315

رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Rabbana 'āmannā fāghfir lanā wa rhamnā wa 'anta khayru r-Rāhimin

Our Lord! We believe, so forgive us, and have mercy on us, for You are the Best of all who show mercy!

Reference: Quran, Surah 23, Ayat 109

Dua 316

رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Rabbi ghfir wa rham wa 'anta khayru r-Rāhimin

My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!

Reference: Quran, Surah 23, Ayat 118

Dua 320

رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbi 'inni Zalamtu nafsi fāghfir li

Prayer of the Prophet Musa (Moses) (peace be upon him) to Allah:

"My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, so forgive me."

Reference: Quran, Surah 28, Ayat 16

Dua 328

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Rabbanā ghfir lanā wa li'akhwāninā l-Ladhina Sabaqunā bil-'Imāni wa Lā taj`al fi qulubinā Ghillāan lilladhina 'āmanu Rabbanā 'innaka Ra'ufun Rahim

Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.

Reference: Quran, Surah 59, Ayat 10

Dua 329

رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

Rabbanā `alayka tawakkalnā wa 'ilayka 'anabnā wa 'ilayka l-Masir
Rabbanā Lā taj`alnā fitnatan lilladhina kafaru wa ghfir lanā Rabbanā 'innaka 'anta l-`Azizu l-Hakim

Prayer of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (peace be upon him) to Allah:

"Our Lord! In You (Alone) we put our trust, and to You (Alone) we turn in repentance, and to You (Alone) is (our) final Return,
Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, and forgive us, Our Lord! Verily, You, only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise."

Reference: Quran, Surah 60, Ayats 4-5