Different Forms of Seeking Forgiveness in the Quran
Islam doesn’t limit seeking forgiveness to one specific phrase. Various forms are mentioned in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Here are some examples from the Quran:
“(رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي)” – “My Lord, I have wronged myself, so forgive me” (Quran 28:16).
“(رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ)” – “Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses, and make our feet firm, and support us against the disbelieving people” (Quran 3:147).
“(سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ۖ غُفْرَانَكَ رَبَّنَا وَإِلَيْكَ الْمَصِيرُ)” – “We have heard and obeyed. Grant us Your forgiveness, our Lord. To You is the final destination” (Quran 2:285).
“(رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ)” – “Our Lord, forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous” (Quran 3:193).
Forms of Seeking Forgiveness in the Sunnah
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also taught us several ways to seek forgiveness, including:
The Prophet considered this the best form of seeking forgiveness: “(اللَّهُمَّ أنْتَ رَبِّي لا إلَهَ إلَّا أنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وأنا عَبْدُكَ، وأنا علَى عَهْدِكَ ووَعْدِكَ ما اسْتَطَعْتُ، أعُوذُ بكَ مِن شَرِّ ما صَنَعْتُ، أبُوءُ لكَ بنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وأَبُوءُ لكَ بذَنْبِي فاغْفِرْ لِي، فإنَّه لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إلَّا أنْتَ)” – “O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I will keep my covenant and promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for no one can forgive sins except You.” Whoever recites this during the day with firm belief and dies before the evening will be among the people of Paradise. And whoever recites it at night and dies before morning will be among the people of Paradise.
The prayer said during the sitting in the prayer between Tashahhud and Tasleem: “(اللهمَّ اغفرْ لي ما قدَّمتُ وما أخَّرت، وما أسررتُ وما أعلنتُ، وما أسرفْت، وما أنت أعلمُ به منِّي، أنت المقدِّم وأنت المؤخِّر لا إله إلا أنت)” – “O Allah, forgive me what I have done in the past and what I will do in the future, what I have done in secret and what I have done openly, and what I have transgressed. You are the One who brings forward and You are the One who delays, there is no god but You.”
Benefits of Seeking Forgiveness
Seeking forgiveness has many benefits, including:
- Erasing Sins: When a person seeks forgiveness for their sins, Allah forgives them. The extent of forgiveness varies based on the sincerity of the repentance, sometimes erasing all sins entirely.
- Entering Paradise: Those who seek forgiveness and repent will enter Paradise, as Allah has promised: “(أُولَٰئِكَ جَزَاؤُهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۚ وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ)” – “Their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, where they will abide forever. Excellent is the reward of the righteous” (Quran 3:136).
- Protection from Disgrace on Judgment Day: Unlike disbelievers and hypocrites who will be disgraced, believers who seek forgiveness will be protected from such humiliation.
- Renewing Faith: Sins can weaken a person’s faith and create a dark spot in their heart. Seeking forgiveness helps erase these dark spots and renews one’s faith.
Therefore, Allah has linked repentance with faith in the Quran: “(وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِّمَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ)” – “And indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance” (Quran 20:82).
- Increasing Provision: Repentance and seeking forgiveness can lead to increased provision, blessings, and continuous goodness. Allah promises to send rain, increase wealth and children, and provide gardens and rivers for those who seek forgiveness: “(فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًايُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًاوَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا)” – “And 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).
On the other hand, sins can deprive a person of provisions. This deprivation can be physical, such as losing worldly blessings, or spiritual, such as being deprived of the opportunity to do good: “(إنَّ الرجلَ ليُحرَمُ الرزقَ بالذنبِ يصيبُهُ، ولا يردُّ القدرَ إلا الدعاءُ، ولا يزيدُ في العمرِ إلا البرُّ)” – “A man is deprived of provision because of a sin he commits, and destiny is not repelled except by supplication, and the life is not increased except by righteousness.”
- Preventing Punishment: Seeking forgiveness can also protect individuals from divine punishment: “(وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَأَنتَ فِيهِمْ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ)” – “And Allah would not punish them while you are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness” (Quran 8:33).
Etiquette of Remembrance and Seeking Forgiveness
Scholars have mentioned several etiquettes for remembrance, seeking forgiveness, and supplication, including:
- Sincerity: Ensure that the act of worship and remembrance is performed sincerely for Allah alone: “(وَمَا أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ الْقَيِّمَةِ)” – “And they were not commanded except to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, inclining to truth, and to establish prayer and to give zakah. And that is the correct religion” (Quran 98:5).
- Purity: Prefer to be in a state of purity while remembering Allah.
- Recognizing Allah’s Greatness: Feel the greatness and power of Allah when supplicating and remembering Him: “(الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ عَلَىٰ مَا أَصَابَهُمْ وَالْمُقِيمِي الصَّلَاةِ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُون
- Starting with Praise: Begin supplications with praise and glorification of Allah, as the prophets did.
- Tears in Solitude: Remembrance of Allah with sincerity, especially in solitude, often leads to tears, which is a sign of true devotion.
- Persistence: Be persistent in supplication and do not give up. The Prophet advised against saying, “(لا يَقُولَنَّ أحَدُكُمْ: اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لي إنْ شِئْتَ، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إنْ شِئْتَ، لِيَعْزِمِ المَسْأَلَةَ، فإنَّه لا مُكْرِهَ له)” – “O Allah, forgive me if You will. O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.” Instead, be firm in your request.
- Including Others in Supplication: It is good to include other believers in your prayers for forgiveness: “(فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَاكُمْ)” – “So know [O Muhammad] that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows of your movement and your resting place” (Quran 47:19).
- Showing Humility: Displaying humility and submission to Allah during supplications is encouraged. For example, when Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) prayed, he showed his dependence on Allah and left his matter to Him.
- Facing the Qibla: It is recommended to face the Qibla while supplicating and to maintain a humble posture.
- Using Miswak: Using a Miswak before supplication and remembrance is recommended.
By adhering to these practices, one can seek forgiveness in a manner that is pleasing to Allah and beneficial for the soul.
This concludes the article on the proper way to seek forgiveness in Islam. By following these teachings and maintaining sincerity in our actions, we can hope to attain Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.