Sayyidul Istighfar Meaning in Islam
Istighfar Meaning – how to do istighfar
sayyidul istighfar; it is a Supplication of Sayyidul Istighfar and remembrance from the invocations that Muslims recite in the morning and evening,[١] and it’s worth noting that there are multiple forms of Istighfar.
The Supplication of Sayyidul Istighfar encompasses profound meanings and is made for several reasons, including seeking abundant rewards, hastening the response from Allah, and because Sayyidul Istighfar encompasses profound meanings.[٢]
The Text of the Supplication of Sayyidul Istighfar
The Supplication of Sayyidul Istighfar is confirmed in Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Shaddad ibn Aws – may Allah be pleased with him – from the Prophet – peace and blessings be upon him – who said:
“اللَّهمَّ أنتَ ربِي، لَا إلهَ إلَّا أنتَ، خلَقْتَني وأَنَا عبدُكَ، وأنا علَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ ما استطعتُ
أعوذُ بِكُ مِنْ شَرِّ ما صنعْتُ، أبوءُ لكَ بنعمتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وأبوءُ لَكَ بذنبي، فاغفرْ لِي، فَإِنَّه لَا يغفرُ الذنوبَ إلَّا أَنْتَ”.
“O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no deity but You. You created me, and I am Your servant, and I am on Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You my sins. So forgive me, for surely, there is no one who can forgive sins except You. I seek refuge with You from the evil I have committed.”[٣][٤]
The Virtues of Sayyidul Istighfar
It is recommended to begin Istighfar by praising Allah – the Most High – then acknowledging one’s sins, and finally turning to Allah with requests and seeking forgiveness.[٥] Mentioned among the virtues of supplicating with Sayyidul Istighfar:
- The declaration of Allah’s Oneness, His glorification, gratitude for His blessings, and repentance from sins and disobedience.[٨]
- Affirmation of Allah’s Lordship and servitude to Him – Glorified and Exalted – and the promise of repentance and steadfastness on the path of truth.[٩]
- Easing of worries and troubles, facilitation of sustenance, and guidance towards all that is good.[١٠]
Significance of Sayyidul Istighfar
sayyidul istighfar signifies numerous meanings and implications, which are elaborated upon as follows:[١١]
- Saying “O Allah, You are my Lord”: This means that Allah alone is the One who sustains His servants, creates them, owns them, manages their affairs, and is in control of them.
- Saying “There is no deity but You”: This is a Supplication of Sayyidul Istighfar for the forgiveness of sins, and it is the prayer that the Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him) made while inside the belly of the whale.
- Saying “You created me, and I am Your servant”: This is an acknowledgment by the servant that Allah has created them from nothing and that they are His servants by divine decree.
- Saying “I am on Your covenant and promise as much as I can”: This is a declaration of sincerity to Allah in obedience.
- Saying “I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done”: This means that the servant seeks refuge in Allah from anything that would anger Him, as there is no protector from harm except Him.
- Saying “I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me”: This is the servant’s recognition of Allah’s blessings upon them and their gratitude for them. It involves acknowledging and confessing these blessings inwardly and openly, using them in a way that pleases Allah.
- Saying “And I confess to You my sins”: This is an admission of sins, as confessing sins is a means of their forgiveness.
- Saying “So forgive me, for surely, there is no one who can forgive sins except You”: This is a prayer for forgiveness and an acknowledgment that only Allah has the power to forgive His servants.
Significance of Sayyidul Istighfar
It is recommended to begin Istighfar by praising Allah – the Most High – then acknowledging one’s sins, and finally turning to Allah with requests and seeking forgiveness.[٥] Mentioned among the virtues of supplicating with Sayyidul Istighfar:
- The declaration of Allah’s Oneness, His glorification, gratitude for His blessings, and repentance from sins and disobedience.[٨]
- Affirmation of Allah’s Lordship and servitude to Him – Glorified and Exalted – and the promise of repentance and steadfastness on the path of truth.[٩]
- Easing of worries and troubles, facilitation of sustenance, and guidance towards all that is good.[١٠]
Istighfar (Seeking Forgiveness)
It is narrated in the authentic Hadith that our noble Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “O Allah, You are my Lord; there is no deity but You. You have created me, and I am Your servant, and I am on Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You my sins. So forgive me, for surely, there is no one who can forgive sins except You.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
The Secret of the Chief of Seeking Forgiveness
The Prophet, peace be upon him, emphasized the virtues of the Chief of Seeking Forgiveness by concluding his statement: “And whoever says it during the day, firmly believing in it, and dies before evening, will be among the people of Paradise. And whoever says it during the night, firmly believing in it, and dies before morning, will be among the people of Paradise.”
From this noble Hadith, we understand that when a servant utters this Supplication of sayyidul istighfar with full conviction, recognizing the profound blessings of Allah upon them and admitting their own sins and mistakes, they turn to Allah alone for forgiveness. Nothing stands between them and Paradise except death.
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The Virtue of Supplication of sayyidul istighfar
In this section, we highlight the importance and virtues of Supplication of sayyidul istighfar as emphasized by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him:
Supplication of sayyidul istighfar is the most honorable act in the eyes of Allah: The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “There is nothing more honorable in the sight of Allah than Supplication of sayyidul istighfar.” (Ahmad, al-Bukhari, Ibn Majah, at-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim – authenticated by al-Dhahabi).
Supplication of sayyidul istighfar prevents Allah’s anger: The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Allah becomes angry with those who do not ask Him for anything.” (at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah – authenticated by al-Hakim).
The one who supplicates is in the company of Allah: The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Allah, the Exalted, says, ‘I am as My servant thinks of Me, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I mention him in Myself, and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length, and if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.'” (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)
