Sayyidul Istighfar- The Best method of asking Allah for forgiveness

On the authority of Shaddad ibn Aws, might Allah be happy with him, the Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Aalihi Wa Sallam, mentioned, “The chief of prayers for forgiveness is:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْت،

خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ،

وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْت،

أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْت،

أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ

عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ

الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

Allahumma anta rabbee la ilaha illa ant, khalaqtanee wa-ana AAabduk, wa-ana AAala AAahdika wawaAAdika mas-tataAAt, aAAoothu bika min sharri ma sanaAAt, aboo-o laka biniAAmatika AAalay, wa-aboo-o bithanbee, faghfir lee fa-innahu la yaghfiruth-thunooba illa ant.

‘O Allaah, You’re my Lord, none has the suitable to be worshipped besides You, You created me and I’m You servant and I abide to Your covenant and promise as finest I can, I take refuge in You from the evil of which I dedicated. I acknowledge Your favour upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily none can forgive sin besides You.’

The Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Aalihi Wa Sallam, added, “If anyone recites it in the course of the day with agency religion in it and dies on the same day earlier than the night, he can be from the individuals of Paradise and if anyone recites it at night time with agency religion in it and dies earlier than the morning he will probably be from the folks of Paradise.”