The Enduring Good Deeds

Lit. “The Master of Seeking Forgiveness.”

Sins are the biggest obstacles in our journey to Allah. Thus, istighfār (seeking forgiveness) has to be an essential part of our lives.

Allah ﷻ Loves to Forgive.

There is no one who forgives like Allah. No matter what we may have done, Allah is waiting for us to turn to Him with sincerity and humility, and beg Him to forgive us. However, we must be sincere and mindful when seeking forgiveness. 

Anyone who knows himself and recognizes the rights of Allah, and is true in his quest, his reflection on his bad deeds will not leave a good deed for him. He will meet Allah in pure destitution and full poverty. This is because if he searches for the faults of his soul and shortcoming of his deeds, he will realise that they are not suitable for Allah. This commodity is not enough to acquire safety from the punishment of Allah, let alone to bring him great reward from Him. If he has sincere deeds and finds time to dedicate himself to Allah, he will comprehend the favour of Allah to him and understand that it is not from him but it is a favour from Allah, otherwise he did not deserve it. He is engaged constantly in observation of Allah’s favour to him and the faults of his soul and deeds. Any time he contemplates, he will be able to see it.

This is the most useful knowledge for the devotee, and for this reason the master of seeking forgiveness is the following supplication—

• Narrated Shaddad bin Aus رضي الله عنه:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said,

“The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah ﷻ is:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

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 bini`matika `alaiya, wa abu'u laka bidhanbi faghfir lee fa innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.

O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no God but You. You created me and I am Your servant, I am committed to You and Your promise, as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your favors and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me. Verily, no one forgives sins but You.”

The Prophet (ﷺ) added, “If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies on the same day before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise; and if somebody recites it at night with firm faith in it, and dies before the morning, he will be from the people of Paradise.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6306

Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Bukhari

Explanation: This supplication includes acknowledgement from the servant of Allah, Him being the object of worship. It also includes the recognition that He is the Creator of the world, and that He knows him. He brought him forth in a way that requires his inability to fulfil his duty. It also contains the admission of him being His servant whose forelock is in His hand and under His command. He cannot escape from Him, no one can help him beside Allah. He also confesses that he is bound by the command and prohibition which He passed to him on the tongue of His Messenger. The servant of Allah declares that he will do according to his capability, not in accordance to what is due to Him, because that is out of the power of humans. After confirming his belief in Allah’s pledge and promise, the servant seeks His protection and support against the evil of the shortcoming in fulfilling His command and prohibition. The servant says,

“If You do not give me refuge from the evil of my faults, I will perish. I confess my sins and take shelter in Your favour. From You comes favour and grace, and from me comes sins and mistakes. I beg You to forgive my sins, eradicate them and save me from their evil consequences. There is none but You who can forgive my sins.”

This supplication was declared to be the master of seeking forgiveness because it involves complete devotion. In this supplication, the servant admits the faults of his soul and his deeds and recognizes the favours of Allah towards him.

End quote.

Adapted from the book ‘Tawbah – Turning to Allah in Repentance’ by Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله.