10 Amazing Benefits of Istighfar & How to do Istighfar

And (commanding you): “Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words). But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). [Hud 11:3]

Astaghfirullah 100 Times

Reciting Astaghfirullah does not take much time. There is no specific way to recite it, but there is a sunnah of Prophet Muhammad PBUH of reciting istighfar 100 times.

He was the Prophet of Allah SWT who was pure and free of any sin. He would still recite Istighfar then why can’t we make it a habit and grab a place in Jannah as our final home?

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah’s Apostle saying.” By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari – Book 75 Hadith 319

Istighfar Dua

‘Astaghfirullah’ is the shortest dua that can be recited constantly. We can recite a tasbeeh of just Astaghfirullah. But certain duas are taught by Prophet Muhammad PBUH as istighfar duas.

Narrated Abdullah bin Amr: Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said to the Prophet “O Allah’s Apostle! Teach me an invocation with which I may invoke Allah in my prayers.” The Prophet said, “Say: O Allah! I have wronged my soul very much (oppressed myself), and none forgives the sins but You; so please bestow Your forgiveness upon me. No doubt, You are the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

10 – Istighfar Provides Relief from Sorrow

Life is not a bed of roses and we don’t always get what we desire. The constant struggle to fit into this world has taken a toll on us. Moreover, the hardships and tests that cloud our lives, leave no hope and drown us deep in disappointment.

Have you ever thought about why sorrow doesn’t leave your way or why hardships that are a test by Allah seem like a burden? The answer lies in the Dhikr of Allah SWT. Seeking forgiveness from Allah, reciting istighfar will pave our way towards the doors of peace.

But how can this powerful Dhikr make us free of our sorrows? Sometimes our sins are the reason for our disappointments and hardships, or it can just be a test from Allah SWT. Either way, istighfar will help us deal with them with the help of Allah SWT.

Istighfar gives immense peace to the hearts and takes away all our anxiety. When our tongues keep reciting this beautiful dhikr, the sorrows and hardships will no more leave us emotionally drained and we will put our complete faith in Allah.

If you’re suffering from sorrow, I highly recommend that you go through our previous post on Islamic Ways To Deal With Depression, Stress & Anxiety.

9 – Istighfar Opens the Doors of Sustenance

Humans are designed to provide for their families. They work hard, struggle endlessly to provide shelter and food to them. But often, we forget the only provider of sustenance is Allah SWT. He decides what and how much rizq should be given to a particular family.

Many times, we work hard, juggle between two jobs and struggle to make ends meet. There is no Barakah in our rizq and money. The rise in inflation keeps draining us physically and mentally but we cannot find a way to put an end to this struggle.

Our Prophet Muhammad PBUH has stated that one who is poor and is financially struggling should recite istighfar and seek Allah’s forgiveness more and more. As it can open the doors of sustenance and rizq.

Here are some more Islamic Ways to Increase Rizq & Sustenance.

8 – The Barakah of Istighfar

We always ask others to pray for us when we are facing difficulties as in Islam, we should pray for our Muslim brothers and sisters.

Sometimes we feel as if our prayers aren’t getting accepted or our sins might be the reason hindering our prayers. We ask the people who are closer to Allah SWT to pray for us.

The Barakah of Istighfar should be emphasized more. As the person who recites it and prays for others, there are higher chances of his dua getting accepted due to the Barakah of Istighfar. He will be rewarded by Allah SWT in unbelievable ways.

7 – Allah Showers Rain

When it rains, we should be grateful to Allah SWT for His blessing. Crop fields depend on this blessing to grow and prosper. Many lands stay barren due to a lack of rain. People suffer and the weather stays unfavourable for them. But why does Allah keep us deprived of this blessing?

Sins of the people of the barren land make their hands empty from this blessing. Crops, fields, plants start to wither away, making people deprived of basic needs. The only thing that can bring them out of this hardship is Istighfar and prayers.

Seeking forgiveness from Allah for our sins can bring about prosperity and rain. Allah SWT promises that He will shower rain in abundance when His creations ask for His forgiveness. He will open the doors for the barren land to boom and grow due to the Barakah of Istighfar.

6 – Sins are Forgiven

There comes a time in our life when we do not feel connected to our deen. Our Imaan stays low for a long period and our heart does not warn us against backbiting or music. We spend time in worldly things that are not liked by Allah SWT.

Ever wondered why?

Our minds, which once reasoned with us when we sinned, stopped reminding us about right and wrong. It happens due to our sins. When we sin, our hearts get blackened and we lose the grip on our Imaan. We don’t realize, the path that we have chosen is the path that leads to destruction.

But there is always a way to gain back a firm grip on our imaan and strengthen our relationship with Allah SWT. Istighfar, reciting duas of forgiveness, will bring us back on the right path.

According to the Hadith, The Prophet, peace be upon him, said,

“Allah extends His hand by the day so the sinner of the night can repent and He extends His hand by the night so the sinner of the day can repent. “

[Muslim]

Here are some Powerful Duas to Ask Allah for Forgiveness of Sins.

5 – Istighfar Avoids Punishment

We have been taught since childhood that when we do wrong, we will be held accountable. Similarly, when we sin, we will be answerable for such deeds and be punished by Allah SWT in any way.

The fear of punishment of Allah SWT has been engraved in our hearts so that we can stay from sins. But as human beings, we are prone to make mistakes. We sin, go against the Islamic teachings and get lost in the desire of this world. But is there anything that can bring us back to our Creator?

Yes! Through tawbah and istighfar. When you seek forgiveness from Allah SWT with a sincere heart, you will find him Most Forgiving. As He says in the Quran,

Declare (O Muhammad SAWS) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful.”
(Al-Hijr 15:49)

When our tongues are moist with istighfar, Allah will not punish us. As we are constantly in the state of seeking forgiveness from the Most Merciful.

4 – Istighfar Opens the Doors of Mercy

When you’re working hard for your family but suddenly you lose your job and the world comes crashing down. You trusted your business partner with your money but he runs away taking all of it. You’ve been insulted and treated badly by some people, losing every ounce of confidence that you had once possessed. You have been wounded by this world and do not see anywhere to go.

The only place where you can pour your heart is sujood and words that can heal your heart and open the doors of mercy are duas of forgiveness, istighfar.

When we face hardships and difficulties, it is upon us that we build a pure connection with Allah SWT or doubt His plans. If we choose the latter, we will never have peace.

If we choose the path of istighfar and seek forgiveness from Allah and have complete faith in him, the doors of opportunities will open from unexpected places. Allah SWT will open the doors of His mercy.

Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance. [Al-Isra 17:25]

3 – Increase in Wealth and Children

This world has been changing constantly. The financial crises are getting bigger with every passing day. People despite managing two jobs are on the verge of breaking down due to inflation.

Married couples who are trying to have a child get emotionally drained. They visit different fertility clinics and go through procedures to have a healthy child in their arms. People everywhere face such problems which may give a shake to their Iman as well.

All the problems that break a human being do have a solution and a dua for it to get better.

Our prophet Muhammad PBUH have mentioned many times that we need to recite istighfar as much as we can to make things better at our end. If we want to have children or have barakah in our Rizq, we should make istighfar a habit and recite it constantly. Through which, Allah will have mercy upon us and provide us with unexpected means.

2 – Prayers are Accepted through Istighfar

During this life, we desire certain things that mean the world to us. We want our dream job for which we have worked hard or we want to build a house that can cater to our family’s needs. Sometimes, we are sick and the tests don’t come out fine, which makes our hearts sink.

All the problems that we face during this lifetime, drain us completely. During such desperate times, you must have asked Allah SWT a thousand times to fulfil a certain desire. A dua that is the ultimate wish of your heart but the circumstances are not in your favour.

What can we do in such trying times?

The answer is Istighfar!

Istighfar removes all the hindrances that might have been affecting our dua. Asking forgiveness from Allah SWT lead us to a more pure path. And due to this, Allah accepts our prayers.

1 – Istighfar Leads to Paradise

Paradise is the ultimate wish for all Muslims. We have been told since childhood that we are here as a test and this world is a temporary place to live on. Our actions will be judged by Allah SWT and we will be given rewards and punishments according to our character and deeds.

But why does it all matter?

The way you talk, treat others, your manners and your Iman can take you to Jannah or a step closer to Jahannum. That will be our permanent place to live. So we need to carefully decide what words should come out of our mouths and what actions can lead to irreparable damage.

Walking on the path of Allah is the true way to the roads to paradise. Istighfar is one of the keys that can easily open a door of Jannah for us. Reciting supplications of forgiveness and being fearful of Allah bring us closer to Him and in return win a ticket to the most beautiful place, Jannah.

I would also recommend that you go through these Duas for Jannah/Paradise and Protection from Hell Fire.