Sayyid al-Istighfar
“Sayyid al-Istighfar (the master of seeking forgiveness)” is an authentic dua from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 6306. Read it below in Arabic with transliteration and an English translation, and learn when to say it.
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ 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, abu'u laka bi ni'matika 'alayya, wa abu'u laka bi dhanbi, faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta.
Translation: O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, and I am keeping my covenant and promise to You as best I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6306
When to recite
Once in the morning and once in the evening; it can also be said at any time you seek forgiveness.
Virtue
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever says it during the day with firm belief in it and dies that day before evening will be among the people of Paradise, and whoever says it at night with firm belief and dies before morning will be among the people of Paradise.
About this dua
Narrated by Shaddad ibn Aws. The Prophet ﷺ called this “the master of seeking forgiveness” (sayyid al-istighfar) because it combines affirming Allah’s Lordship, admitting one’s own sins and gratitude for His blessings in a single supplication.
Source and authenticity
- Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 6306
- Grading: Recorded in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and/or Muslim, the most authentic books of hadith.
- Read the source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6306
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 for Forgiveness (Istighfar) · Morning & Evening · All duas