1. Dua of Adam (A.S) – Forgiveness after sin
Arabic:
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Transliteration:
Rabbanaa ẓalamnaa anfusanaa wa illam taghfir lanaa wa tarḥamnaa lanakoonanna minal-khaasireen.
Translation:
"Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers."
(Surah Al-A'raf 7:23)Meaning: A sincere plea from Prophet Adam and Hawwa (Eve) after they sinned, asking Allah for forgiveness and mercy.
2. Dua from Surah Al-Imran (3:193)
Arabic:
رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
Transliteration:
Rabbanaa faghfir lanaa dhunoobanaa wa kaffir ‘annaa sayyi’aatinaa wa tawaffanaa ma’al abraar.
Translation:
"Our Lord, forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous."
Meaning: This dua is from the believers asking Allah for forgiveness, removal of sins, and to be joined with the righteous in the Hereafter.
3. Sayyidul Istighfar – The Best Way to Seek Forgiveness
From Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306)
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
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, aboo’u laka bini’matika ‘alayya, wa aboo’u bidhanbi, faghfir li fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunooba illa Anta.
Translation:
"O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I keep my covenant and promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I admit Your blessings upon me and I admit my sins. So forgive me, for surely none forgives sins except You."
Meaning: This is the most comprehensive and powerful dua for forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever says this in the morning with firm belief and dies that day will enter Paradise.
4. Simple Forgiveness Dua – From Hadith
Arabic:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ
Transliteration:
Astaghfirullah
Translation:
"I seek forgiveness from Allah."
Meaning: A short yet powerful phrase for seeking forgiveness. The Prophet ﷺ used to say it more than 70 times a day (Sahih Bukhari 6307).
5. Dua of Yunus (A.S) – When in distress and seeking forgiveness
Arabic:
لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration:
La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka inni kuntu minaẓ-ẓalimeen.
Translation:
"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."
(Surah Al-Anbiya 21:87)Meaning: This powerful dua was said by Prophet Yunus (A.S) in the belly of the whale. It is a dua of humility and repentance. The Prophet ﷺ said it is a means of deliverance from hardship.
