Muslims are human beings and commit crimes and sins. We are not prophets or angels who can not commit sins; we are normal beings who can be deceived by Shaytan and can commit major and minor sins.
However, the good news is that the gates of Allah’s forgiveness are open till the judgment day, and whoever repents from sins and asks for Allah’s forgiveness will be forgiven.
But Allah would never punish them while you ˹O Prophet˺ were in their midst. Nor would He ever punish them if they prayed for forgiveness. —Surah Al-Anfal Verse 33
This blog will discuss the best duas for forgiveness from the Quran and Hadith. We will also mention which dua is suited best for which sin and what the Holy Prophet (PBUH) prescribes to those who seek repentance.
Best Dua for Forgiveness
We have searched several Quranic verses and Hadiths to find the best Dua for Forgiveness from Allah. We found ‘Astagfirullah’ the best word to seek Allah’s forgiveness. The Arabic word Astagfirullah means I seek forgiveness from Allah.
This word has been mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadith to ask Allah’s forgiveness. Therefore, one must recite this word several times a day as the best dua for forgiveness.
Astagfirullah in Quran
ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا
English transliteration: Istaghfiru Rabbakum innahu kāna ghaffārā. —Surah Nuh Verse 10
English translation: ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, ˹for˺ He is truly Most Forgiving.
Explanation: The verse is taken from Surah Nuh, in which Prophet Noah (PBUH) is complaining about his people to Allah. He is saying whenever I call them to repent and ask your (Allah) forgiveness, they put their figures in their ears.
Astagfirullah in Hadith
أستغفر الله الذي لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم وأتوب إليه
English transliteration: Astaghfirullāha alladhī lā ilāha illā huwa al-ḥayyul-qayyūm wa atūbu ilayh
English translation: I seek the forgiveness of Allah, there is no true god except Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self- Subsisting, and I turn to Him in repentance
Hadith: Ibn Mas’ud (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “He who says: ‘Astaghfir ullah-alladhi la ilaha illa Huwal-Haiyul-Qayyumu, wa atubu ilaihi’ his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allah).” —Riyad as-Salihin 1874
Astagfirullah is the common word used in the Quranic verse and Hadith. Therefore, we should recite ‘Astagfirullah’ daily as the best dua for forgiveness.
Tip!
You can say Astagfirullah or recite the complete dua at anytime of the day. But we would recommend reciting this dua for forgiveness after praying Tahajjud.
Tahajjud is mentioned in several Hadiths, and it is the best time to ask Allah for anything.
Hadith: Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle (PBUH) said, Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him? —Sahih al-Bukhari 1145
Reciting Astagfirullah 100 times a day
We have established the fact on the powers of saying Astagfirullah as a dua for seeking forgiveness from Allah. However there is a number attached to it!
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to recite ‘Astagfirullah’ x 100 times a day and repent to Allah.
Hadith: It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: the Messenger of Allah (saas) said: ‘I seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him one hundred times each day.’ —Sunan Ibn Majah 3815
Other Duas for Forgiveness from the Holy Quran and Hadith
Here is a list of duas for forgiveness we found in the Holy Quran and Hadith books.
Dua for forgiveness in Ramadan| Laylatul Qadr
تَقُولِينَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
English transliteration: Taqūlīna Allāhumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuḥibbu al-‘afwa fa‘fu ‘annī
English translation: You say: O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.
Hadith: It was narrated from ‘Aishah that she said: “O Messenger of Allah, what do you think I should say in my supplication, if I come upon Laylatul-Qadr?” He said: “Say: ‘Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul-‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni'”. —Sunan Ibn Majah 3850
Dua for Forgiveness in Islam
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مِنْ عِنْدِكَ مَغْفِرَةً، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
English transliteration: Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīran, wa lā yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illā anta, faghfir lī min ‘indika maghfiratan, innaka anta al-ghafūru ar-raḥīm.
English translation: O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins but You. So forgive me with Your forgiveness, for You are the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Hadith: Abdullah ibn ‘Amr was heard to say, “Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘Teach me a supplication which I can use in my prayer.’ He said, ‘Say, “O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly. Only You forgive wrong actions. Forgive me with forgiveness directly from you. You are the Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”‘ —Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 706
Best Dua for Forgiveness of all Sins
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي، وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِي، لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
English transliteration: Allāhumma anta rabbī, wa anā ‘abduka, ẓalamtu nafsī, wa‘tarraftu bidhambī, lā yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illā anta, rabbī ighfir lī.
English translation: O Allah, You are my Lord, and I am Your servant. I have wronged myself, and I acknowledge my sin. No one forgives sins except You, so my Lord, forgive me.
Hadith: Abu Hurayra reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The firmest supplication is to say, ‘O Allah, you are my Lord and I am Your slave. I have wronged myself and I admit my wrong action. Only You forgive wrong actions, Lord, forgive me.'”—Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 667
Best Dua for Forgiveness from Allah
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
English transliteration: Allāhumma anta rabbī, lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa anā ‘abduka, wa anā ‘alā ‘ahdika wa wa‘dika mā istaṭa‘tu, a‘ūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣana‘tu, abū’u laka bini‘matika ‘alayya wa abū’u laka bidhambī, faghfir lī, fa-innahu lā yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illā anta.
English translation: O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no deity except You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I am faithful to Your covenant and Your promise as much as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for surely no one forgives sins except You.
Hadith: Narrated Shaddad bin Aus: The Prophet (PBUH) said “The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: ‘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.”
The Prophet (PBUH) added. “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 6306
Dua for Forgivness of Major Sins
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطِيئَتِي وَجَهْلِي، وَإِسْرَافِي فِي أَمْرِي كُلِّهِ، وَمَا أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّي، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي خَطَئِي كُلَّهُ، وَعَمْدِي وَجَهْلِي وَهَزْلِي، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي. اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي مَا قَدَّمْتُ وَمَا أَخَّرْتُ، وَمَا أَسْرَرْتُ وَمَا أَعْلَنْتُ، أَنْتَ الْمُقَدِّمُ وَأَنْتَ الْمُؤَخِّرُ، وَأَنْتَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
English transliteration: Rabbī ighfir lī khaṭī’atī wa jahlī, wa isrāfī fī amrī kullihi, wa mā anta a‘lamu bihi minnī. Allāhumma ighfir lī khaṭa’ī kullahu, wa ‘amdī wa jahlī wa hazlī, wa kullu dhālika ‘indī. Allāhumma ighfir lī mā qaddamtu wa mā akhkhartu, wa mā asrartu wa mā a‘lantu, anta al-muqaddimu wa anta al-mu’akhkhiru, wa anta ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.
English translation: My Lord, forgive my sins, my ignorance, my extravagance in all my affairs, and what You know better than I do. O Allah, forgive my mistakes, my intentional wrongdoings, my ignorance, and my jesting, for all of that is with me. O Allah, forgive what I have done previously and what I will do later, what I have done in secret and what I have done openly. You are the One who brings forward, and You are the One who defers, and You are capable of all things
Hadith: Abu Musa reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to make this supplication, “O Allah, forgive my errors, my ignorance and my excess in all my affairs, and what You know better than me of these things. O Allah, forgive all my errors, what I do intentionally or out of my ignorance or in jest and in all that I do. O Allah, forgive me my past and future wrong actions, what I conceal of them and what I divulge. You are the One who puts things ahead and the One who delays them. You have power over all things.” —Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 688
Dua for Forgivness of Zina
Zina, or unlawful sex (sex outside marriage), is considered to be one of the major sins in Islam. In several Surahs, Allah has forbidden the believers to avoid unlawful sex and labeled it as Fahishah.
In Surah Al-Isra Verse 32 the Quran says, Do not go near adultery. It is truly a shameful deed and an evil way.
In Surah Al-Muminun, Allah is describing the triats of a true believer. The Quran says “Successful indeed are the believers: those who humble themselves in prayer; those who avoid idle talk; those who pay alms-tax; those who guard their chastity except with their wives or those ˹bondwomen˺ in their possession, for then they are free from blame.
In Islam, the Punishment of Zina (Illegal sex) is a hundred lashes and exiled from society for one year. At the same time, the punishment for a married person committing the same sin is death by stoning.
The fact that Allah prescribes these punishments shows how much He disapproves of this act. If you have committed Zina in the past, repent immediately to Allah. Ask for Allah’s forgiveness by reciting all the duas for forgiveness mentioned above, especially Astagfirullah.
You can also recite this dua for forgiviness.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
English transliteration: O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.
Dua for forgiveness of Zina in English translation: O God, forgive me, show mercy to me, guide me, grant me health, and grant me provision.
Hadith: Abu Malik al-Ashja‘i told on his father’s authority that when a man accepted Islam the Prophet instructed him in the prayer, then commanded him to make supplication with these words, “O God, forgive me, show mercy to me, guide me, grant me health, and grant me provision.” —Mishkat al-Masabih 2486
Wrap Up
No matter what crimes and sins you have committed, Allah will forgive you. We have listed the best duas for forgiveness from the Holy Quran and Hadiths and believe you will benefit from them.
We will update this blog with more supplications and examples in the future. In summary, Astagfirullah is the best one-word dua for forgiveness that you can recite easily.
FAQs
What is the dua for forgiveness from porn?
The percentage of people watching porn has dramatically increased over the years. There are numerous harmful side effects of watching porn that can negatively affect both your mental and physical health.
In Islam, watching porn is considered Zina (fornication) of the eyes, which is a serious sin and equally punishable. Therefore, Muslims should avoid watching porn and, instead, aim to get married as soon as possible. Those who are addicted to watching porn should recite “Astagfirullah” several times a day and ask Allah for his forgiveness.
Our research suggests that many Muslims turn to porn because they are single and seeking to satisfy their desires. We encourage all Muslims who are struggling with this sin to recite dua for marriage and work to stop this behavior immediately. Inshallah, Allah will guide and bless you.
Dua for the forgiveness of parents?
وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا
Dua for Parents forgiveness in English: Wakhfid lahuma janaha al-dhulli mina al-rahmati wa qur rabbir hamhuma kama rabbayani sagheera. —Surah Al-Isra Verse 24
English translation: And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.
All of us love our parents because they are the ones who helped us grow. We have compiled a guide with the best dua for parents one should recite and bless them.
Dua for escaping Hell Fire?
رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
English transliteration: Rabbana innana amanna faghfir lana dhunubana wa qina ‘adhaba an-nar. —Surah Al-Imran Verse 16
English translation: Our Lord, indeed we have believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
What other duas for forgiveness are mentioned in the Holy Quran?
We have covered almost all the duas for forgiveness mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. However there are a few left which are mentioend below.
Dua for forgivness made by Propeht Adam (PBUH)
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
English transliteration: Rabbana ẓalamna anfusana wa in lam taghfir lana wa tarḥamna lanakūnanna mina al-khāsirīn. —Surah Al-Arfah Verse 23
English translation: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.
Dua-e-Yunus
لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
English transliteration: Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina aẓ-ẓālimīn. —Surah Al-Anbya Verse 87
English translation: There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.
Do read our guide on the benefits and virtues of Dua-e-Yunus— La Ilaha Illa Anta Subhanaka Inni Kuntu Minaz Zalimin.
Dua for forgivness by Prophet Musa (PBUH)
رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى فَٱغْفِرْ لِى
English transliteration: Rabbi innī ẓalamtu nafsī faghfir lī. —Surah Al-Qasas Verse 16
English translation: My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.
Dua for forgivness of all sins
رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِىٓ أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
English transliteration: Rabbana ighfir lana dhunubana wa israfana fī amrina wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘ala al-qawmi al-kafireen.. —Surah Al-Imran Verse 147
English translation: Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs, make firm our feet, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.
5th Kalma
Reciting the 5th Kalma is one of the best dua for forgiveness. The 5th Kalma is named ‘Astagfar’ and talks about everything related to forgiveness from Allah.
