The Power of Istighfar –
Astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness
of Allah)
People often forget the importance
of the simple yet powerful dua
(supplication) – Istighfar i.e.,
saying“Astaghfi

rullah”(I seek
forgiveness of Allah). Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him)
recited this at least 100 times a
day. Let us see the benefits and
virtues of reciting this simple
beautiful supplication insha Allah.
*.Istighfar (Astaghfirullah) is the
gateway of relief and happiness.
Whenever you are in distress start
reciting it and Insha Allah it will
take you out of your anxiety and
will put you in a peaceful situation
and will give you happiness.
*.Istighfar removes anxiety and
duas are answered.
*.Istighfar opens the door of
sustenance.
*.Istighfar opens the door of
mercy.
*.Istighfar opens the door of
knowledge.
*.Istighfar is also gateway of
productivity.
*.Istighfar relieves you. When you
feel that sadness within you, when
you are disturbed and frustrated,
when anxiety surrounds you, say
“Astaghfirullah” “Astaghfirullah”…
*.Reciting Astaghfiruallah is an
effective method of calming our
self and wipes away the variety of
worldly worries from our mind and
body. It may also help us, if we
are suffering from depression, it
calm us and lessen our
depression.
*.Astaghfirullah also helps us to
refrain from all forms of sins.
Regularly saying this reminds us
that Allah is everywhere and in this
way there is very small chances of
doing wrongful actions.
*.Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased
with them) said: The Messenger of
Allah (peace be upon him) said,
“If anyone constantly seeks pardon
(from Allah), Allah will appoint for
him a way out of every distress
and a relief from every anxiety, and
will provide sustenance for him
from where he expects not.” [Abu
Dawud].
*.In another hadith, Abdullah bin
Abbas (May Allah be pleased with
them) narrates that Rasulullah
(Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:
“The one who (regularly) says
Istighfaar, that is, frequently repent
to Allah Ta’aala for sins
committed, Allah Azza Wa-Jal will
open a path from poverty and
difficulties. All sorrow and
hardship will be removed, and in
its place prosperity and
contentment granted. One will
receive sustenance from
unimagined and unexpected
sources.”
*.Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi
Wasallam) has said in another
Hadith:
“The one who seeks forgiveness
for Muslim males and females
from Allah Ta’aala twenty six or
twenty five times every day, Allah
Ta’ala will count that person
among those whose Du’a is
accepted, and through the barakah
of whom those on earth gain Rizq
(sustenance).”
*.Do Tasbih of Astaghfaar at least
100 times daily as it is the Sunnah
of Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him).
*.In one minute, you can say
“Astaghfiru Allaah” more than 100
times! The virtue of seeking
forgiveness is well-known, it is a
reason of obtaining forgiveness,
entering Paradise, having good
provisions, increasing one’s
strength, repelling harm, having
affairs facilitated, the descent of
rain, and increasing in wealth and
children.
*.The doors of repentance are
always open therefore don’t delay
your repentance in a hope of
tomorrow, as tomorrow is
uncertain , Repent now and make it
a habit to ask Allah’s forgiveness
by reciting “Astaghfirullah”.
*.Say I believe in Allah’s mercy, I
have sinned, I have gone astray, I
have been negligent, but still I
believe in Allah’s soothing mercy
and forgiveness, I’ll not despair!
Importance of Istighfar from the
Quran:
One of the 99 Names of AllahisAl-
Ghaffaar ( ﺍﻟْﻐَﻔَّﺎﺭُ ) – The Great
Forgiver The Forgiver, the One who
forgives the sins of His slaves
time and time again. There are
numerous verses in the Quran
about the importance of asking for
forgiveness of Allah SWT. Here are
few of them:
And (commanding you): “Seek the
forgiveness of your Lord, and turn
to Him in repentance, that He may
grant you good enjoyment, for a
term appointed, and bestow His
abounding Grace to every owner of
grace (i.e. the one who helps and
serves needy and deserving,
physically and with his wealth, and
even with good words). But if you
turn away, then I fear for you the
torment of a Great Day (i.e. the
Day of Resurrection). [Hud 11:3]
Declare (O Muhammad SAW) unto
My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-
Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. [Al-
Hijr 15:49]
Then, verily! Your Lord for those
who do evil (commit sins and are
disobedient to Allâh) in ignorance
and afterward repent and do
righteous deeds, verily, your Lord
thereafter, (to such) is Oft-
Forgiving, Most Merciful. [An-Nahl
16:119]
Your Lord knows best what is in
your inner-selves. If you are
righteous, then, verily, He is Ever
Most Forgiving to those who turn
unto Him again and again in
obedience, and in repentance. [Al-
Isra 17:25]
And verily, I am indeed Forgiving
to him who repents, believes (in
My Oneness, and associates none
in worship with Me) and does
righteous good deeds, and then
remains constant in doing them,
(till his death). [Ta-Ha 20:82]
And say (O Muhammad SAW): “My
Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for
You are the Best of those who
show mercy!” [Al-Mumenoon
23:118]
Need more verses? Read the
Quran! There are plenty of verses
about the importance of seeking
forgiveness. Some verses are
addressing the previous Prophets
and their people. But these are
again addressing us since Allah
SWT wants us to learn from the
story of previous people – His
acceptance of forgiveness from
them and His severe punishments
for the ignorant groups.So did you
say “Astagfirullah” (I seek
forgiveness of Allah) 100 times
today?
A Interesting Story about the
Istighfar
This story about “Istighfar” is from
the life of Imam Ahmed Bin
Hanbal, who is considered as a
renowned scholar of Islam and a
famous theologian. During his old
age, while Imam Ahmed was
travelling he stopped by a town.
After the prayers, he wanted to
stay for the night in the masjid
yard because he didn’t know
anyone in the town. Owing to his
humility, he hadn’t introduced
himself to anyone thinking that if
he did, he would be welcomed by
many people.
Failing to recognize Ahmed bin
Hanbal, the caretaker of the
mosque refused to let him stay in
the mosque. As Imam Ahmed was
quite old, the caretaker had to drag
him out of the mosque. On seeing
this, a baker from a nearby place
felt pity for this man (Imam
Ahmed) and offered to be the host
to him for the night. During his
stay with the baker, Imam Ahmed
observed that the baker would
constantly recite Istighfar (seeking
forgiveness from Allah). Imam
Ahmed asked the baker if the
constant practice of saying
Istighfar had any effect on him.
The baker responded by telling
Imam Ahmed that Allah had
accepted all of his duas
(supplications), except one. When
he asked him what dua was it that
hadn’t been accepted, the baker
replied that he had been asking
Allah to provide him the privilege
to meet the famous scholar Imam
Ahmed bin Hanbal. On this, Imam
Ahmed bin Hanbal said that Allah
had not only listened to his dua
but had dragged him onto his (the
baker’s) doorsteps. [Summarized
from Al Jumuah magazine, vol
19, ....... Sufis u have noting to be
afraid of if you truely adhere to d
teachings because d teachings are
purely base on d Quran and Hadith
of our belove prophet haqqi bil
haqqi.... SAW...