Sayyid al-Istighfar means “the master of seeking forgiveness”. It is a short du’a that the Prophet ﷺ described as the best way to ask God to forgive us. It belongs to the morning and evening remembrances explained in our guide to dhikr in Islam.
The English meanings below are our own wording, not a published translation. Learn the Arabic from a teacher or a reliable printed copy.
Quick answer
Short answer: Sayyid al-Istighfar begins Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa anta. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says it by day with firm belief and dies before evening, or by night and dies before morning, will be among the people of Paradise (Bukhari 6306).
The full text in transliteration
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 bi-ni’matika ‘alayya, wa abu’u laka bi-dhanbi. Faghfir li, fa-innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta.
At a glance
- Name: Sayyid al-Istighfar, “the master of seeking forgiveness”.
- Source: narrated by Shaddad ibn Aws in Sahih al-Bukhari (6306; also 6323).
- Grade: sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari).
- When: once in the day and once at night; most people say it with the morning and evening adhkar.
- Condition in the hadith: said with firm belief in its words.
The hadith behind it
Shaddad ibn Aws reported that the Prophet ﷺ said, in meaning: the best way of asking forgiveness is for the servant to say these words. Whoever says them during the day, firmly believing in them, and dies that day before the evening, is among the people of Paradise; and whoever says them at night, firmly believing in them, and dies before the morning, is among the people of Paradise (Bukhari 6306).
The promise is tied to certainty. The words are short, but they are meant to be said with the heart, not only the lips.
Phrase by phrase
What each line says (our own wording)
1
Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa anta: O God, You are my Lord; there is no god but You. The du’a opens with God’s lordship and oneness before asking for anything.
2
Khalaqtani wa ana ‘abduka: You created me, and I am Your servant. We remember where we came from and to whom we belong.
3
Wa ana ‘ala ‘ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu: I hold to Your covenant and Your promise as far as I am able. We commit to keep faith, while admitting our limits.
4
A’udhu bika min sharri ma sana’tu: I seek refuge in You from the harm of what I have done. We ask protection from the consequences of our own deeds.
5
Abu’u laka bi-ni’matika ‘alayya, wa abu’u laka bi-dhanbi: I acknowledge Your blessing upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. Gratitude and honesty side by side.
6
Faghfir li, fa-innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta: So forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You.
Note
The last line echoes the Qur’an. In meaning (our own paraphrase), it describes those who, when they do wrong, remember God and ask forgiveness, “and who forgives sins except God?” (3:135).
Why it is called the “master”
The hadith itself calls it sayyid, the chief or best, of the forms of istighfar (Bukhari 6306). Looking at the six lines, we can see why it gathers so much:
| Astaghfirullah | Sayyid al-Istighfar | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | One word | Six short lines |
| Oneness of God | Implied | Stated plainly |
| Gratitude | Not stated | “I acknowledge Your blessing” |
| Admitting sin | Implied | “I acknowledge my sin” |
| Virtue in the hadith | General | Paradise for one who says it with certainty and dies that day or night |
Both are good. The short form is easy to repeat through the day; the long form is a complete act of returning to God.
When to say it
- In the morning: after Fajr, with the morning and evening adhkar.
- In the evening or at night: the hadith says “at night” for the second time (Bukhari 6306); Bukhari 6323 mentions the night as well.
- Any time you need it: it is a du’a for forgiveness, and asking God’s forgiveness is never out of place.
Tip
To learn it, take one line a day for six days. Say the new line with the ones you already know, and read its meaning each time.
Saying it well
- Say it once in the day and once at night.
- Understand each line before you rush it.
- Mean it: the hadith ties the reward to firm belief.
- Check your wording against a reliable copy or a teacher.
Keep going
Coming soon in this series: a guide to istighfar in the Qur’an and Sunnah. For the place of this du’a in a daily routine, see morning and evening adhkar, and for the bigger picture return to our complete guide to dhikr.
This is general education, not a religious ruling. Ask a qualified scholar about specific practices.
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