Syed ul Istighfar is known as the most comprehensive and powerful supplication for seeking Allah’s forgiveness. It includes acknowledgment of Allah’s greatness, human shortcomings, and a sincere request for pardon. In this article, we will explore what is Syed ul Istighfar and when to recite it, with its Arabic text, English transliteration, English translation, and the virtues of regularly reciting it.
What is Syed ul Istighfar?
The prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said:
Syed ul Istighfar is to say:
اَللّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوْءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
English Transliteration: Allāhumma anta rabbī lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa anā ‘abduka, wa anā ‘alā ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, a’ūdhu bika min sharri mā sana‘tu, abū u laka bini’matika ‘alayya, wa abū u laka bidhambī, faghfir lī fa innahū lā yaghfirudh dhunūba illā anta.
Translation: Ya Allah! You are my lord. There is no god but you. You created me; I am your servant. I will obey your laws and decrees as much as possible.
I take refuge in you from the evil of my deeds. I acknowledge the favors that You have given me and confess my sins. So forgive me. There is none but You who can forgive sins. Sahih Bukhari 6306, 6323
The virtue of Syed ul Istighfar
The prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam) said:
He who recites these words with a firm belief during the day and dies before the evening of that day, will be among the dwellers of Jannah. Likewise, whoever recites it with a firm belief at night and dies before dawn, will be among the dwellers of Jannah. Sahih Bukhari 6306, 6323