Five Virtues of Istighfar (Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness)
Allah wants us to be in constant remembrance of Him s.w.t. He knows we are going to fall into sin but he wants us to be from those who constantly seek His forgiveness and ask for His mercy. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,“By the One in Whose Hand my soul is! If you do not commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah will certainly forgive them.” [Muslim].The Prophet used to seek Allah’s forgiveness more than 70 times a day. (Bukhari) So how come Istighfar is so important? Here are five virtues of Istighfar (Seeking forgiveness) that you might not know:
Istighfar Provides Sustenance
“And (Noah) said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.” He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (Quran 71:10-12)
Istighfar opens the door of mercy
Declare (O Muhammad SAW) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. [Al-Hijr 15:49]
Istighfar removes Stress and Anxiety
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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)
An Eraser of Sins
“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.” [Quran 16:119] And Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness [Quran, 8:33]
Your Dua (Supplication) is Accepted
My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower. [Quran 38:35]This was the dua of Prophet Sulaiman who started his dua by seeking forgiveness from Allah first then asking for his request. That request was granted and will stand until the day of judgement. The Prophet Sulaiman was given a kingdom that no one will ever be given after him. ——————- The Prophet (ﷺ) said,
“The best supplication for seeking forgiveness (Syed-ul- Istighfar) is to say: O Allah! You are my Rubb. There is no true god except You. You have created me, and I am Your slave, and I hold to Your Covenant as far as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge the favours that You have bestowed upon me, and I confess my sins. Pardon me, for none but You has the power to pardon.’ He who supplicates in these terms during the day with firm belief in it and dies on the same day (before the evening), he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah; and if anyone supplicates in these terms during the night with firm belief in it and dies before the morning, he will be one of the dwellers of Jannah.” [Al-Bukhari].May Allah make us from those who constantly seek His forgiveness and mercy.