Astaghfirullah Rabbi Min Kulli Dhanbin – Arabic Dua for Seeking Forgiveness
Here is the supplication in Arabic:
أسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبِّي مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَأَتُوبُ إلَيْهِ
Transliteration: Astaghfirullah rabbi min kulli dhanbin wa atoobu ilaihi
Translation: I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, for every sin, and I turn to Him in repentance.
This beautiful dua is a powerful expression of humility and devotion. It reflects the constant turning back to Allah, acknowledging one’s shortcomings, and seeking His mercy. Though not directly narrated as a specific saying of the Prophet (ﷺ) in authentic hadith collections, its wording is consistent with the Quran and Sunnah in both meaning and spirit.
Allah Almighty reminds us in Surah Muhammad, verse 19:
“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.”
Additionally, in Sahih al-Tirmidhi (Hadith 3259), it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Indeed, I seek forgiveness from Allah seventy times a day.”
Some narrations mention up to a hundred times. This shows the profound humility and constant awareness of Allah demonstrated by the Prophet (ﷺ)—a man whose entry into Paradise was divinely guaranteed—yet he remained steadfast in seeking forgiveness daily.
If the Prophet (ﷺ), pure and exalted as he was, felt the need to renew his repentance so frequently, how much more should we, who are burdened with sins and shortcomings, strive to do the same?
It is highly recommended to recite this dua regularly throughout the day—upon waking, after prayers, before sleeping, or at any moment of reflection. Doing so strengthens one’s connection with Allah and cultivates a heart filled with remorse, hope, and tawbah (repentance).
A Word of Caution: False Narrations
While the Arabic text and translation of this dua are correct and appropriate to recite, it is important to address a widespread misconception. Numerous social media posts—shared widely on platforms like Facebook and Twitter—have falsely attributed this dua to a fabricated hadith involving Imam Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
The fabricated narration claims the Prophet (ﷺ) told Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) not to sleep before completing five tasks, one of which includes saying a version of this dua ten times, with promises of great rewards.
However, this entire chain of narration is unauthentic and has no basis in reliable hadith sources. Many such posts do not cite any credible reference, which should immediately raise suspicion.
The Prophet (ﷺ) clearly warned:
“Whoever deliberately tells a lie against me, let him take his seat in the Fire.” — Sahih al-Bukhari 106, Book 3, Hadith 48
Therefore, while the dua itself is permissible and beneficial, we must be careful not to associate it with false or invented hadiths. Reciting it is not an act of bid’ah (religious innovation) if done with the correct intention and understanding—but attributing it to a fabricated source would be.
Conclusion
Let us embrace this meaningful dua as part of our daily worship, not because of unverified stories, but because it aligns perfectly with the Quranic command to seek forgiveness and follow the Sunnah of constant repentance. Let our hearts remain soft, our tongues active in dhikr, and our souls eager for Allah’s mercy.
Recite it often. Mean it deeply. And turn to Allah sincerely—again and again.
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