Istighfar (seeking Allah's forgiveness)
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيَّ الْقَيُّومَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfiru’llāha’l-ʿAẓīma’lladhī lā ilāha illā huwa’l-Ḥayya’l-Qayyūma wa atūbu ilayh.
“I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Magnificent, whom there is no god but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance.”
When to say it
Said at any time — after prayers, when remembering a sin, and throughout the day.
Virtue & benefit
The Prophet ﷺ said whoever says it, Allah forgives him even if he had fled from battle. Frequent istighfar brings relief, provision and a way out of hardship.
Source
Sunan Abī Dāwūd (1517) and Jāmiʿ al-Tirmidhī (3577), from Ibn Masʿūd; the promise of relief is from Q 71:10-12.
Frequently asked
What is the best istighfar?
A well-known complete formula is "Astaghfiru’llāha’l-ʿAẓīma’lladhī lā ilāha illā huwa’l-Ḥayya’l-Qayyūma wa atūbu ilayh"; the shortest is simply "Astaghfirullah".
How many times should I say istighfar?
There is no upper limit — the Prophet ﷺ himself sought forgiveness more than seventy (in another narration, a hundred) times a day.
Make this dua a daily habit
SABR helps you memorise and retain your everyday duas with spaced repetition — so the words are ready on your tongue when you need them.