What is Istighfaar in Islam?

Istighfaar (استغفار) means "seeking forgiveness from Allah." It is the act of asking Allah to forgive one's sins, usually by saying phrases such as "Astaghfirullah" (I seek forgiveness from Allah). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sought forgiveness more than seventy times a day.

How do I seek forgiveness in Islam?

You can seek forgiveness through many authentic, sourced supplications: saying "Astaghfirullah," the Sayyid al-Istighfar (the master prayer of forgiveness), "Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh," Allahumma innaka Affuwwun Karim, the dua of Yunus (La ilaha illa Anta), and making Istighfaar after each of the five daily prayers. Sincere repentance requires leaving the sin and resolving not to return to it.

What is Sayyid al-Istighfar?

Sayyid al-Istighfar (the Master of Istighfaar) is the best supplication for forgiveness. It begins: "Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa Anta, khalaqtani wa ana abduka…" (O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant… so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You). Whoever says it with conviction by day or night enters Paradise. Recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (Riyad as-Salihin 1875).

When should I make Istighfaar?

Istighfaar is a daily habit. The Prophet ﷺ made it after every prayer (beginning with three "Astaghfirullah"), between the two prostrations, on the Night of al-Qadr, and more than seventy times a day. You can also turn to it whenever your deeds feel heavy or the scale of good and bad tips the wrong way.

What is the difference between Hasanat and Sayyiat?

Hasanat (حسنة) are good deeds — every act of worship, kindness, or obedience that earns reward. Sayyiat (سيئة) are sins or missteps. Amaal Tracker lets you log both as a living daily balance so you can reflect and return to Allah through Istighfaar.

Is Amaal Tracker free and offline?

Yes. Amaal Tracker is a free Progressive Web App that works 100% offline after the first visit and can be installed on Android, iPhone/iPad, and desktop like a native app.

Istighfaar — How?

Ten authentic, easy ways to seek forgiveness, drawn from the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Each is short, easy to memorise, and backed by a reliable source. Istighfaar is a daily habit — the Prophet ﷺ sought forgiveness more than seventy times a day.

1
Astaghfirullah

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

Astaghfirullah

"I seek forgiveness from Allah."

The simplest and most repeated form. The Prophet ﷺ said it three times after every prayer. — Muslim (Riyad as-Salihin 1415)
2
Sayyid al-Istighfar (The Master Prayer)

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ

Allāhumma anta Rabbī, lā ilāha illā Anta, khalaqtanī wa ana ʿabduka…

"O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant… so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You."

The best supplication for forgiveness; whoever says it with conviction by day or night enters Paradise. — Al-Bukhari (Riyad as-Salihin 1875)
3
Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ

Astaghfirullah wa atūbu ilayh

"I seek Allah's forgiveness and repent to Him."

A comprehensive variant the Prophet ﷺ used often, combining seeking forgiveness with repentance. — Sahih Muslim
4
Allāhumma innaka ʿAffuwwun Karīmun

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Allāhumma innaka ʿAffuwwun Karīmun tuḥibbul-ʿafwa faʿfu ʿannī

"O Allah, You are Pardoning and Generous; You love to pardon, so pardon me."

Taught by the Prophet ﷺ for the Night of al-Qadr. — Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 3513
5
ʿAfuwwan (The Forgiveness Duʿāʾ)

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي

Allāhumma-ghfir lī, war-ḥamnī, wa ʿāfinī, wah-dinī, war-zuqnī

"O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me wellbeing, guide me and grant me sustenance."

The Prophet ﷺ said this between the two prostrations. — Abu Dawud 850
6
Lā ilāha illā Anta ( Yunus's Duʿāʾ )

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

Lā ilāha illā Anta subḥānaka innī kuntu mina-ẓ-ẓālimīn

"There is no god but You; You are free of all imperfection. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." (21:87)

The duʿāʾ of Prophet Yunus (as); the Prophet ﷺ said no one supplicates with it except that they are answered. — Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi
7
Subḥān Allāhi wa biḥamdih

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ

Subḥān Allāhi wa biḥamdih

"Glory be to Allah and praise Him."

Saying it 100 times morning and evening is among the greatest deeds; it expiates sins. — Sahih Muslim 2692
8
After the five daily prayers

Make Istighfaar a habit by seeking forgiveness right after each of the five prayers — the Prophet ﷺ did this consistently, beginning with three "Astaghfirullah".

A simple daily routine that keeps the heart returning to Allah. — Sahih Muslim
9
Allāhumma Rabbi… ighfir lī

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ مُحَمَّدٍ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي وَأَذْهِبْ غَيْظَ قَلْبِي

Allāhumma Rabba Muḥammad, ighfir lī dhambī, wa adh-hib ghayẓa qalbī

"O Allah, Lord of Muhammad, forgive my sins and remove the anger of my heart."

Taught by the Prophet ﷺ. — Authentic hadith (Ibn Hibban)
10
Baʿid baynī wa bayna khataāyā

اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ

Allāhumma bāʿid baynī wa bayna khataāyāya kamā bāʿadta baynal-mashriqi wal-maghrib…

"O Allah, distance me from my sins as You have distanced the east from the west… wash my sins with water, snow and hail."

A beautiful, vivid prayer of purification. — Sahih al-Bukhari / Muslim

Sources: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawud, and Riyad as-Salihin. Forgiveness also requires a sincere heart, leaving the sin, and resolving not to return to it.

Astaghfirullah

Sayyid al-Istighfar (The Master Prayer)

Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh

Allāhumma innaka ʿAffuwwun Karīmun

ʿAfuwwan (The Forgiveness Duʿāʾ)

Lā ilāha illā Anta ( Yunus's Duʿāʾ )

Subḥān Allāhi wa biḥamdih

After the five daily prayers

Allāhumma Rabbi… ighfir lī

Baʿid baynī wa bayna khataāyā