بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
What does Astaghfaar mean?
- When we say ‘Astaghfirullaah,’ it means ‘I seek forgiveness from Allah’.
- The word ‘istighfaar’ comes from the Arabic root ‘ghafara’ which means ‘to forgive’. ‘Istaghfara’ means ‘to seek forgiveness’.
- Only Allah can forgive the sins of people, because He is
- is Al-Ghaafir, the One Who forgives
- is Al-Ghafoor, the Most Forgiving.
- is Al-Ghaffaar, the One who is readily inclined towards forgiving.
Why should we do Astaghfaar?
- Seeking forgiveness is enjoined upon believers:
وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا
“And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful” [Surah An-Nisa 4:106]
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنْبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ
“So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place.” [Surah Muhammad 47:19]
- It is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet (SAWS). According to one authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) used to seek forgiveness from Allah more than 100 times in a day.
- If you want to have Allah love you:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
“Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.” [Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222]
What are the benefits of Astaghfaar?
- It is the gateway to relief and happiness. Whenever you are in distress, start reciting it and Insha’Allah, it will take you out of your anxiety and will put you in a peaceful situation and will give you happiness. According to Ibn Abbas (RA), Prophet (SAW) said: “If anyone constantly seeks forgiveness (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him where he expects not.” [Abu Dawud]
- It opens the door of sustenance. It was provided as a solution for those who needed more health, wealth or children, as is illustrated by this story:
A person came to visit Hasan Basri and said: “I am poor and starving and have nothing to survive.”
Basri advised him: “Make as much Astaghfaar as possible. Allah will lighten your problems.”
Another person came to him and said: “I have been married for a long time, but haven’t been blessed with a child.” He was also advised to engage himself in Astaghfaar.
Yet another person came and complained: “I incurred a heavy loss in business. I am much worried.” He too was recommended to make Astaghfaar.
Yet another person came and complained: “I incurred a heavy loss in business. I am much worried.” He too was recommended to make Astaghfaar.
Someone from the audience asked: “How come you have suggested one prescription for all problems.” Hasan Basri replied: “All hardships and disappointments are caused by sins, and that is why I have prescribed Astaghfaar. Repentance and seeking forgiveness provides relief and salvation from all ills."
He also said “This is not my personal opinion, for Allah says in Surah Nuh:
فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا
يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِدْرَارًا
وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ أَنْهَارًا
“I said to them: “Ask forgiveness from your Lord; surely He is Most Forgiving. He will shower upon you torrents from heaven and will provide you with wealth and children, and will bestow upon you gardens and rivers.” [71:10]
As narrated by Ibn Maajah, “the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: ‘A man is deprived of provision because of the sins that he commits.’” (Al-Hasan)
Ibn al-Qayyim said, “…Knowledge is light that Allah causes to reach the heart, and sin extinguishes that light.”
In both these cases, committing sins were the root cause of provision and knowledge being taken away from us. Therefore, sincerely seeking Allah’s forgiveness will cause these to be restored.
- It brings abundant rain. Where people are conscious of their deeds and where they seek forgiveness, there will be abundant rain. Rain is a sign of Allah’s mercy as has been mentioned in the Quran and in the Sunnah. It is a time when Allah answers du'aa. Forgiveness is one of the causes for Allah to send rain down. It is symbolic as well for Allah to increase us in our provision and mercy. Even the guidance of the Quran has been compared to the effect that rain has on the dead earth.
- Astaghfaar is the means of du'aas being answered
- Remember the story of Imam Ahmed bin Hambal and the baker, who would recite Astaghfaar constantly. Seeing this Imam Hambal asked him what positive effects had had noticed by his constant seeking of forgiveness. The baker replied that all his du'aas had been answered except one. This last du'aa was to meet Imam Hambal.
- Scholars say that one of the ways of having our du'aas answered is by making Astaghfaar first and then seeking from Allah.
Sulaiman (A.S) made the du'aa: “My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Grantor of Bounties (without measure)” [Surah Saad 38:35]. The beauty of the du'aa is that he starts it by seeking forgiveness from Allah. And then he makes a request. That request was granted and will stand until the day of judgement. The Prophet Sulaiman was given a kingdom that no one will ever be given after him. And he started his du'aa while making Astaghfaar to Allah.
- It protects us from Punishment
وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ
“And Allah would not punish them while you (Muhammad) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while they seek (Allah’s) Forgiveness.” [Surah Al-Anfal 8:33]
One of the scariest things in human life is disaster— when something horrible happens out of the blue and without us expecting it. There are very few things that terrify people more than something like that. In Islam, they can be both tests and punishments. As Muslims, we don’t want to be punished by Allah. We don’t want to experience any of it. And astaghfaar is the promise from Allah that it’s not going to happen. He has our back as long as we seek His forgiveness.
- For success
فَأَمَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَعَسَىٰ أَنْ يَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُفْلِحِينَ
“But as for him who repented (from polytheism and sins), believed (in the Oneness of Allâh, and in His Messenger Muhammad SAW), and did righteous deeds (in the life of this world), then he will be among those who are successful.” [Surah – Al-Qasas 28:67]
Concluding on the benefits of Astaghfaar, another hadith relates the following story:
“Among those who came before you was a man who killed 99 people. He then asked to be guided to the most prolific worshipper from the inhabitants of the earth, and he was directed to a monk. He went to him and told him that he had killed 99 people, and he asked whether it was possible for him to repent. The monk said, ‘No.’ The man killed him (the monk too), thus making him the 100th victim. He then asked to be directed to the most knowledgeable of the Earth’s inhabitants (for guidance on the same matter), and he was guided to a scholar. He went to him and told him that he had killed 100 people, and he asked whether it was possible for him to repent. The scholar said, ‘Yes, and who will stand between you and repentance. Go to such and such land, for in it dwell a people who worship Allah, so go and worship Allah with them. And do not return to your land, for it is indeed a land of evil.’
He left, and when he reached the halfway point of his journey, he died. The angels of Mercy and the angels of Punishment disputed with one another [in regard to his case]. The angels of Mercy said, ‘He came to us repentant, advancing with his heart towards Allah.’ The angels of Punishment said, ‘Indeed, he never performed any good deeds.’ Then an angel came in the form of a human being, and both groups of angels asked him to be the judge between them. He said, ‘Measure the distance between the two lands. Whichever land he is closer to is the land that he is closer to [in terms of being of its people]. They then measured the distance and found that he was closer to the land that he was heading towards, and so it was the angels of Mercy who then took his soul.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: 3470 ; Muslim: 2766]
Astaghfaar and Taubah
Astaghfaar is mentioned by itself in many places in the Quran:
In the words of Prophet Salih (A.S):
قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ لِمَ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ لَوْلَا تَسْتَغْفِرُونَ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
He said: “O my people! Why ask you to hasten on the evil in preference to the good? If only you ask Allah for forgiveness, you may hope receive mercy?” [Surah An-Naml 27:46]
Allah also tells RasoolAllah SAWS:
فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
“..so pardon them, and ask for Allah’s forgiveness for them; and consult them in conduct of affairs. Then, when you have taken a decision put your trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him). [Sural Al-Aal-e-Imran 3:159]
Many scholars have given their views on the difference and similarities between Astaghfaar and Taubah, and how they have been used interchangeably in the Quran:
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا۟ فَٰحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ
“And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness of their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? [Surah Al-Aal-e-Imran 3:135]
But some scholars have pointed out how Allah SWT has used these terms distinctly as something you need to undertake together. Meaning do Taubah and Astaghfaar - repent and ask for forgiveness.
وَأَنِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَٰعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِى فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ
“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace” [Surah Hud 11:3]
وَيَٰقَوْمِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا۟ مُجْرِمِينَ
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him (in repentance) , He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and will strength to your strength. And do not turn away and be wicked.” [Surah Hud 11:52] .
Also, Prophet Salih’s (A.S) words to his people have Taubah and Astaghfaar mentioned together:
قَالَ يَٰقَوْمِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ مَا لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَٰهٍ غَيْرُهُۥ ۖ هُوَ أَنشَأَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ
“He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. My Lord is always near and ready to answer.” [Surah Hud 11:61]
and Prophet Shuaib’s (A.S) speech as well has these two actions joined together.
وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى رَحِيمٌ وَدُودٌ
“And ask forgiveness of your Lord and turn unto Him in repentance. Verily, my Lord is Most Merciful, Most Loving.” [Surah Hud 11:90]
Some scholars have used these examples to show how Astaghfaar is the means to Taubah. It is the Du’aa of Taubah. In other words, we repent (do Taubah) by asking for forgiveness (by doing Astaghfaar)
In the words of Mufti Menk, Allah SWT is teaching us on how to do Taubah by instructing us to Astaghfaar.
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Will they not turn to or return to Allah, and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. [Surah Al-Maeda 5:74]
Taubah means return to Allah, change your bad ways, your bad habits. If your life has changed, that means you have engaged in Taubah. And Astaghfaar means to seek forgiveness. So you seek forgiveness AND you change your ways. Allah here is asking us to do both of these things. Don’t just say, O Allah forgive me, and then go back to your old ways.
How to do Astaghfaar
- Repent and Seek protection: The believer must discontinue the sin as well as regret over its occurrence. He must also vow never to go back to that sin again and give back the right to whom it is due if the sin involves a man.
He SAWS also said, The companion (Angel) on the left lifts his pen for six hours for the Muslim slave that errs or sins. If this slave repents and seeks Allah’s forgiveness for that error or sin, the Angel doesn’t record it. And if the slave doesn’t ask Allah for forgiveness, the Angel records it once. [Sahih Muslim]
- Hasten and Compete for forgiveness. Allah SWT uses two commands in reference to Astaghfaar: Saari’oo and Saabi’qoo:
Saari’oo is in the imperative form which means ‘be fast’, ‘be quick’, ‘be prompt’, ‘run’, ‘hasten’ ‘dash’, ‘speed up’, ‘accelerate’!
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ 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 Aal-e-Imran: 133)
If we adopt this attitude of ‘saari’oo’ amongst ourselves, we won’t postpone, we won’t delay, we won’t lag behind, and we won’t have second-thoughts in seeking forgiveness from Allah.
Sabiqoo mean ‘to vie’, ‘compete’ or ‘race against one another’:
سَابِقُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
“So vie with one another in seeking to attain your Lord’s forgiveness and a Garden whose width is as the width of the heaven and the earth, one which has been prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Messengers. That is Allah’s bounty which He bestows upon those whom He pleases. Allah is the Lord of abounding bounty.” (Surah Al Hadeed 57:21)
- Forgive others if you want to be forgiven. Allah SWT is pleased with us when we let go of grudges. As a reward, He will in turn forgive us.
The Best prayer for Forgiveness: Sayyidul Istighfar
Shaddad ibn Aws (RA) relates that the Prophet (SAWS) said the Sayyid ul Istighfaar is the most superior way of asking for forgiveness. He, SAWS said that if somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it and dies before the morning he will be from the people of Paradise.
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 318]
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ
Allahumma anta rabbee la ilaha illa anta, khalaqtanee wa-ana ‘abduka, wa-ana ‘alaa ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mas-tata’tu, a’oothu bika min sharri ma sana’tu, aboo-o laka bi ni’matika ‘alaya, wa-aboo-o bizambee, faghfir lee, fa-innahu la yaghfiruz-zunooba illa ant.
‘O Allah, You are my Lord, none has the right to be worshiped except You, You created me and I am Your servant and I abide to Your covenant and promise [to honor it] as best I can, I take refuge in You from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sins except You.’
OTHER DU'AAS
Du'aa of Adam (A.S) to Allah in repentance:
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Rabbana zalamna anfusana wain lam taghfir lana watarhamna lanakoonanna mina alkhasireena
"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.” [Surah Al-Aa’raf 7:23]
Du'aa of Ibrahim (A.S) and his followers to Allah when dealing with the idol worshippers:
رَّبَّنَا عَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ
Rabbana AAalayka tawakkalna wailayka anabna wailayka almaseeru
"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.” [Surah Al Mumtahinah 60:4]
Du'aa of Ibrahim (A.S) for forgiveness for his parents:
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbana ighfir lee waliwalidayya walilmumineena yawma yaqoomu alhisabu
"Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.” [Surah Ibrahim 14:41]
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