It is human nature to make mistakes; everyone makes mistakes or commits sins with or without knowing, but the most important thing is to repent constantly. Islam places great importance on asking for repentance every day. This blog will highlight some duas of forgiveness from the Quran and hadith. Without further ado, let’s begin.
From The Quran
Dua 1 [Quran 3:193]
رَبَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ
Transliteration:
“Rabbanaa faghfir lanaa zunoobanaa wa kaffir, ‘annaa saiyi aatina wa tawaffanaa ma’al abraar.”
Translation:
“Our Lord! Therefor forgive us our sins, and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die the death of the righteous.”
In this dua, the reader asks Allah SWT for forgiveness for sins, but we also praying for a virtuous death, which is one of the ultimate goals of a Muslim.
Dua 2 [Quran 7:23]
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
Transliteration:
“Rabbanaa zalamnaaa anfusanaa wa illam taghfir lanaa wa tarhamnaa lanakoonanna minal khaasireen.”
Translation:
“Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If thou forgive us not and have not mercy on us, surely we are of the lost!”
This dua was revealed to Prophet Adam (PBUH) when he and Mother Eve (PBUH) ate from the forbidden tree. This dua clearly states that, without the mercy of Allah SWT, humanity will remain lost.
Reciting this dua is a strong reminder that even the first of the Muslims, who resided in paradise and were away from all kinds of evil, were also tempted by Satan and that as long there is repentance, the door of Allah SWT is always open.
Dua 3 [Quran 21:87]
لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
Transliteration:
“laaa ilaaha illaaa Anta Subhaanaka innee kuntu minaz zaalimeen.”
Translation:
“There is no God save Thee. Be Thou glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong-doer.”
Prophet Yunus’ (PBUH) dua after he got trapped in the belly of a whale because he left his people behind in anger.
Everyone should continuously recite this dua and try to remember Allah’s mercy because if the Lord can bring a Prophet out of the belly of a whale unharmed and perfectly fine, then what makes anyone think he won’t listen to humanity’s supplications?
Dua 4 [Quran 2:286]
رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
Transliteration:
“Rabbanaa laa tu’aakhiznaaa in naseenaaa aw akhtaanaa; Rabbanaa wa laa tahmil-‘alainaaa isran kamaa hamaltahoo ‘alal-lazeena min qablinaa; Rabbanaa wa laa tuhammilnaa maa laa taaqata lanaa bih; wa’fu ‘annaa waghfir lanaa warhamnaa; Anta mawlaanaa fansurnaa ‘alal qawmil kaafireen.”
Translation:
“Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or miss the mark! Our Lord! Lay not on us such a burden as thou didst lay on those before us! Our Lord! Impose not on us that which we have not the strength to bear! Pardon us, absolve us and have mercy on us, Thou, our protector, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.”
When reciting this dua, the reader asks for Allah’s mercy to lessen their difficulties and strengthen them in the face of adversity and other evils.
Dua 5 [Quran 11:47]
رَبِّ إِنِّىٓ أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْـَٔلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِى بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِى وَتَرْحَمْنِىٓ أَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
Transliteration:
“Rabbi inneee a’oozu bika an as’alaka maa laisa lee bihee, ‘ilmunw wa illaa taghfir lee wa tarhamneee akum minal khaasireen.”
Translation:
“My Lord! Lo! in Thee do I seek refuge (from the sin) that I should ask of Thee that whereof I have no knowledge. Unless Thou forgive me and have mercy on me, I shall be among the lost.”
This dua covers the theme of forgiveness and complete reliance on Allah’s mercy to succeed.
Dua 6 [Quran 59:10]
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ
Transliteration:
“Rabbanagh fir lanaa wa li ikhwaani nal lazeena sabqoonaa bil eemaani wa laa taj’al fee quloobinaa ghillalil lazeena aamanoo rabbannaaa innaka Ra’oofur Raheem.”
Translation:
“Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who were before us in the faith, and place not in our hearts any rancor toward those who believe. Our Lord! Thou art full of pity, merciful.”
This dua asks for mercy and also makes a plea to keep one’s heart free from enmity toward other believers.
From The Hadith
Dua 1 [ Sahih al-Bukhari 6306]
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ”
Transliteration:
“Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Khalaqtani wa ana `Abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, A`udhu bika min Sharri ma sana`tu, abu’u Laka bini`matika `alaiya, wa abu’u laka bidhanbi faghfir lee fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.”
Translation:
“The meaning of the allahumma anta rabbi dua is, “O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favors that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You have the power to pardon.”
The Holy Prophet PBUH said that whoever recites this with firm faith in the day and then that same day before evening will be among the people of paradise. And whoever recites this at night with firm faith and dies before the morning will be among the people of paradise.
Ibn Umar narrated that he counted Prophet Muhammad PBUH saying this dua hundred times in one sitting.
Dua 2 [Sunan Abi Dawud 1517]
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Transliteration:
“Astagfirullah-Al-lazi la ilaha illa Huwa Al-Hayyul-Qayyum wa atubu ilaih.”
Translation:
“I ask pardon of Allah, than Whom there is no deity, the living, the eternal, and I turn to Him in repentance.”
In a hadith, it is narrated that if one recites the above supplication, he will be forgiven even if he fled during battle.
Dua 4 [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3513]
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Transliteration:
“Allāhumma innaka `Afuwwun [Karīmun], tuḥibbul-`afwa fa`fu `annī.”
Translation:
“O Allah, indeed, You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me.”
Hazrat Aisha RA narrated that she asked the Prophet PBUH what his view was; if she knew it was the night of Al-Qadr then what she should recite, Prophet Muhammad PBUH recited this dua.
Dua 5 [Sahih al-Bukhari 744]
أَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَاىَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ
Transliteration:
“Allahumma, baa`id baini wa baina khatayaya kama baa`adta baina l-mashriqi wa l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqini min khatayaya kama yunaqqa th-thawbu l-abyadu mina d-danas. Allahumma, ighsil khatayaya bi l-maa’i wa th-thalji wa l-barad.”
Translation:
“O Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.”
Abu Hurairah RA reported that the Prophet PBUH used to stay silent between the takbeer and the recitation of the Quran, and this pause was short. So when we asked the Prophet PBUH what he used to recite during this pause, he mentioned this dua.
Conclusion
Forgiveness is a large part of Islam and helps Muslims to cleanse their hearts and deepen their relationship with Allah SWT. Muslims should keep reciting these duas daily or whenever they remember them so that Allah SWT may forgive their sins and grant them prosperity in this life and hereafter.