Long Istighfar Dua

September 12, 2026

Uzun İstiğfar Duası Okunuşu, Anlamı ve Fazileti

Explanation

This is a comprehensive dua of istighfar (seeking forgiveness). In the book it is also called the “long istighfar dua.” It expresses the servant’s helplessness and his need for Allah’s mercy.

Dua Text

اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَلَمْ أَكُنْ شَيْئًا، ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي وَارْتَكَبْتُ الْمَعَاصِيَ، وَأَنَا مُقِرٌّ بِذٰلِكَ، إِلٰهِ عَفَوْتَ عَنِّي فَلَا يَنْقُصُ مِنْ مُلْكِكَ شَيْءٌ، وَإِنْ تُعَذِّبْنِي فَلَا يَزِيدُ فِي سُلْطَانِكَ شَيْءٌ، إِنَّكَ تَجِدُ مَنْ تُعَذِّبُ غَيْرِي، وَأَنَا لَا أَجِدُ مِنْ يَرْحَمُنِي غَيْرَكَ، فَارْحَمْنِي يَا رَحِيمُ يَا رَحْمٰنُ، بِرَحْمَتِكَ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ، وَصَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا وَمَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيمًا

Transliteration

Allahumma anta Rabbi, la ilaha illa anta khalaqtani wa lam akun shay’an, zalamtu nafsi wartakabtul-ma’asiya, wa ana muqirrun bi-dhalika, ilahi ‘afawta ‘anni fala yanqusu min mulkika shay’un, wa in tu’adhdhibni fala yazidu fi sultanika shay’un, innaka tajidu man tu’adhdhibu ghayri, wa ana la ajidu man yarhamuni ghayraka, farhamni ya Rahimu ya Rahman, bi-rahmatika ya Arhamar-rahimin, wa sallallahu ‘ala sayyidina wa mawlana Muhammadin wa ‘ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallama taslima.

Meaning

O Allah! You are my Lord; there is no god but You. You created me when I was nothing. I have wronged myself and committed sins, and I confess it. O Allah, if You pardon me, nothing will be lessened from Your dominion; and if You punish me, nothing will be added to Your sovereignty. You can find someone other than me to punish, but I cannot find anyone other than You to have mercy on me. So have mercy on me, O Most Merciful, O Most Compassionate. By Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful. May Allah’s blessings be upon our master Muhammad, his family and his companions.

What Is Asked in This Dua

In this dua of istighfar, the servant first affirms that Allah is his Lord and that there is no god but Him. He remembers that Allah created him when he was nothing. Then he confesses: he has wronged himself and committed sins, and he admits it without hiding anything. This open confession is the foundation of istighfar.

Next, the servant makes a striking line of reasoning: if Allah pardons him, nothing is lessened from His dominion; if He punishes him, nothing is added to His sovereignty. Allah can find another servant to punish, but the servant cannot find anyone other than Allah to have mercy on him. That is why he asks only for mercy, calling on Allah by His names ar-Rahim and ar-Rahman and saying “O Most Merciful of the merciful.” The dua is completed with blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family and his companions. The book states that all the people of knowledge agree on the virtue of this dua.

When and How to Recite

This dua is recited with the intention of repentance and istighfar, when asking forgiveness for sins. It is not tied to a specific time; it can be recited whenever you become aware of a sin, after the prayers or in the quiet hours of the night. No specific number of recitations is mentioned in the source.

It is preferable to be in a state of wudu, to face the qibla and to recite it reflecting on its meaning, remembering your own sins and feeling remorse. Those who find the Arabic long can also seek forgiveness with its meaning in their own language; sincerity and confession are the essence of the dua.

Virtue

It is stated that all the people of knowledge agree on the virtue of this dua.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the long istighfar dua recited?

It can be recited at any time with the intention of repentance and forgiveness; no specific time or number is mentioned in the source, and the moments when you become aware of a sin are especially suitable.

What does the long istighfar dua mean?

The servant confesses his sins, says that Allah’s pardon will not lessen His dominion and asks for mercy, stating that he has no one other than Allah to have mercy on him.

What is the virtue of the long istighfar dua?

The book states that all the people of knowledge agree on the virtue of this dua; it is among the duas that most clearly express the servant’s helplessness and his need for Allah’s mercy.

Source

Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 174.

The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?

Published: 12 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026