Istighfar (Arabic: استغفار istiġfār), also Astaghfirullah or astagfirullah (Arabic: أستغفر الله ʾastaġfiru l-lāh) is the act of seeking forgiveness from God. This act is generally done by repeating the Arabic words astaghfirullah, meaning "I seek forgiveness from Allah". It is considered one of the essential parts of worship in Islam. A Muslim will use this phrase often, even in conversation with another person. When a Muslim abstains from doing wrong (such as experiencing envy, jealousy, pride, and haughtiness) or even wishes to prove their innocence in an incident, they will use this expression. After every salat (prayer), a Muslim will typically recite the phrase three or more times. Arabic-speaking non-Muslims such as Arab Christians sometimes also employ the phrase
Sayyidul Istighfar (The Chief Prayer for Repentance)
Reported on the authority of Shaddad ibn aws, Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said “Sayyidul Istighfar is:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرٍّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ Allāhumma ʾanta rabb-ī lā ʾilāha ʾillā ʾanta, ḫalaqta-nī wa-ʾanā ʿabdu-ka, wa-ʾanā ʿalā ʿahdi-ka wa-waʿdi-ka ma staṭaʿtu, ʾaʿūḏu bi-ka min šarrin mā ṣanaʿtu, ʾabūʾu la-ka bi-naʿmati-ka ʿalayya wa-ʾabūʾu bi-ḏanb-ī fa-ġfir lī fa-ʾinna-hu lā yaġfiru ḏ-ḏunūba ʾillā ʾanta
'O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God but You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide to your covenant and promise as best as I can, I take refuge in you from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily no one can forgive sin except you.
