Dua for Forgiveness Before Salam (Dua of Abu Bakr)
“Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi” is an authentic dua from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 834. Read it below in Arabic with transliteration and an English translation, and learn when to say it.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min 'indika, warhamni, innaka antal-Ghafurur-Rahim.
Translation: O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins except You. So grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 834; Sahih Muslim 2705
When to recite
In the final sitting of the prayer, after the tashahhud and salawat and before the salam (Sahih al-Bukhari 835: after the tashahhud, choose the dua you like best). It may also be said at other times.
About this dua
Abu Bakr as-Siddiq asked the Prophet ﷺ to teach him a dua to say in his prayer, and he taught him these words. It is a model of humility: the most virtuous of the Companions was taught to begin by admitting that he had wronged himself greatly.
Source and authenticity
- Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 834; Sahih Muslim 2705
- Grading: Recorded in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and/or Muslim, the most authentic books of hadith.
- Read the source: Sahih al-Bukhari 834 · Sahih Muslim 2705
The English translation is our own, kept close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering used on sunnah.com.
Related duas
More in Duas in and after Salah · Forgiveness · All duas