Sayyid al-Istighfar: The Foremost Way of Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

In this khutbah, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani reminds the believers that it is Allah who gives guidance. Out of His tremendous and unimaginable mercy, Allah has given us all kinds of means to seek and attain this guidance. One of those means is what Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) referred to as sayyid al-istighfar, meaning the foremost ways in seeking Allah’s forgiveness. This formula of asking Allah for forgiveness answers many key questions on Islamic belief. Who is Allah? What Allah’s relationship to creation? What does one owe Allah Most High?

The sayyid al-isitghfar is a lesson in affirming Allah’s absolute oneness (tawheed), affirming who is your Lord. It also helps us to realize everything that one receives is ultimately from Allah and Him alone.

Text, transliteration and translation of sayyid al-istighfar can be found below.

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 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 faghfirli fainnahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta

O Allah, you are my Lord. There is no god but you. You have created me, and I am your servant—and I am upon Your covenant and promise as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the worst of what I have done. I fully admit to You Your blessings upon me, and I fully admit to You all my sins. So forgive me, for there is none to forgive sins but You.

No one says this by day except granted paradise. No one says this by night except granted paradise.

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