We do many things in our daily lives, which are good and which are bad. Many times we unknowingly commit many serious sins, which we do not even know. It is a great act of worship to seek forgiveness from Allah for getting rid of sins. Five times prayers and tasbih.
Forgiveness Dua From Quran:
When Hazrat Adam came into the world in shame, he became involved in repentance and repentance. At that time too, Allah guided Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) and taught him some words to ask for forgiveness. Which is highlighted here-
The words that Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him) learned exist in the Quran. That is-
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمۡنَاۤ اَنۡفُسَنَا وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَغۡفِرۡ لَـنَا وَتَرۡحَمۡنَا لَـنَكُوۡنَنَّ مِنَ الۡخٰسِرِيۡنَ
Pronunciation: Rabbana Jalamana Angfusana wa Illam Tagfirlana wa Tarhamna Lanakunanna Minal Khasirin. (Surah Al-A’raf: 23)
Meaning: They both said- O our Lord! We have wronged our souls. If you do not forgive us, we will surely be among the losers. It is pure and the opinion of most.
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِي بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَإِلاَّ تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
Pronunciation: Rabbi Inni Aujubika An Asalaka Ma-Laisa Li Bihi Ilmun; Wa illa tagfirli wa tarhamani akum minal khasirin. (Surah Hud: verse 47)
(Noah) said: My Lord! I ask you for the shelter of which I have no knowledge. And if you do not forgive me and have mercy on me, I will certainly be among the losers.
Source: The son of Hazrat Noah (peace be upon him) disobeyed him and did not board the boat during the flood. When the waves of the flood drowned him. Then Noah said to Allah, O Allah! My son belongs to my family. Then Allah said, ‘Noah who does not listen to you is not from your family. Then Noah (peace be upon him) realized his mistake and asked for forgiveness through that prayer.
وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرِ ٱللَّهَۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورٗا رَّحِيمٗا
English Transliteration: Wastaghfiril laaha innal laaha kaana Ghafoorar Raheema.
That is, ask forgiveness of Allah, surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah An-Nisa: verse 106)
فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا
English Transliteration: Faqultus tustaagfıroo raabbakum innahu keana gaaffearea (gaaffearaan).
Allaah says in Surah Nooh, ‘And (Noah) I say, ask forgiveness of your Lord; Surely He is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surah Nooh: verses 10)
وَلَـنَبۡلُوَنَّكُمۡ بِشَىۡءٍ مِّنَ الۡخَـوۡفِ وَالۡجُـوۡعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَالۡاَنۡفُسِ وَالثَّمَرٰتِؕ وَبَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِيۡنَۙ(2:155) الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتۡهُمۡ مُّصِيۡبَةٌ ۙ قَالُوۡٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّـآ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَؕ (2:156)
English Transliteration: Wa la nabluvannakum ann bi shay’ in minal khwvfi val cooi va naaksın minal amveali val anfusi vas samareat(samareati), va bashshiris seabireen(seabireena).(2:155) Allajiheena izaa asabathum museebatun qaloo inna lillahi wainna ilayhi rajiAAoona. (2:156)
In the Holy Qur’an, it has been said, ‘Surely I will test you with some fear and hunger and with some loss of wealth, life and fruit. And give glad tidings to the patient. Those who face any calamity; Then they say, “Indeed, to Allah, we shall return, and to Him, we shall return.” (Surah al-Baqara: 155-156)
وَاِذَا سَاَلَـكَ عِبَادِىۡ عَنِّىۡ فَاِنِّىۡ قَرِيۡبٌؕ اُجِيۡبُ دَعۡوَةَ الدَّاعِ اِذَا دَعَانِ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيۡبُوۡا لِىۡ وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِىۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُوۡنَ
Pronunciation: wa-idha sa-alaka ibadi anni fa-inni qaribun ujibu daʿwata l-da i idha daʿani falyastajibu li walyu’minu bi laʿallahum yarshudun.
The Holy Qur’an also says, ‘And when My servant asks you about Me; I’m close. I accept prayers when he prays to me. Let them hear my call and trust me they will probably be guided in the right path ‘(Surah Al-Baqara, 2:186)
Surely Allah loves those who repent and purify themselves.’ (Sura Al-Baqara, Ayat: 222).
The beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised repentance to get forgiveness from sins. Besides, he taught such prayers which, if followed, lead to forgiveness of sins.
If you commit a sin and ask forgiveness from Allah, Allah forgives. God says in the Holy Qur’an about asking for forgiveness, “And ask God for forgiveness. God is Forgiving and Merciful.” [Surah Muzammil 73:20]
فَاعۡلَمۡ اَنَّهٗ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۡۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِيۡنَ وَ الۡمُؤۡمِنٰتِ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوٰٮكُمۡ
English Transliteration: Fa’lam annahoo laaa ilaaha illal laahu wastaghfir lizambika wa lilmu’mineena wal mu’mineat(moo’mineati), waalla hu yaa’lamu mutakaallabakum wa masweakum.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
That is, So, [O Muhammad] know that there is no god but Allah, you ask forgiveness for the faults of you and the believing men and women. Allah is fully aware of your whereabouts and your resting place. (Surah Muhammad verse 19)
Forgiveness Dua or Istighfar from Hadith:
Pronunciation: Allahummamagfirli zambi qullahu wa dikkbahu wa zillahu wa awalahu wa akhirahu wa alaniyatahu wa sirrahu.
Meaning: O Allah, forgive us all our sins. Less and more, first and last, public and confidential.
Benefits: This is the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) If one seeks forgiveness of all sins from Allah Almighty through this prayer every day. InshaAllah, Allah will forgive him. Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to go to Sajdah and recite this prayer. (Source: Muslim, Hadith: 961)
Pronunciation: Allahumma ba’id baini o baina khataiya kama ba’adta bainal mashriqbi wal magribi, Allahumma nakkini min khataiya kama unakkas saubul abayadu minaddanasi, Allahummamagsilni min khataiyya wi bi ma-yay.
Meaning: O Allah! Make the distance between me and my sin book as you have created the distance between the west and the east. O Allah! Cleanse me from my sin as a white cloth cleanses from dirt. O Allah! Wash away my sins with water, ice and dew. (Bukhari-Muslim)
Pronunciation: wajjahtu wajhiya lillazi fatbaras samawati wal arda hanifaun oma ana minal mushrikin, inna salati wa nusuki wa mahiya wa mamati lillahi rabbil ‘alamin, la-sharikalahu wabiyalika umirtu Wa Ana Minal Muslimeen.
Meaning: I look to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists. Surely my prayer, sacrifice and pilgrimage, life and death are dedicated to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partners. And that is why I am commanded and I am one of the Muslims.
Sayyidul Istigfar the best prayer for forgiveness:
Pronunciation: ‘Astagfirullahlalaji la ilaha illa huwal haiyul qayyumu, wa atubu ilaihi.’
Meaning: I ask forgiveness from Allah, there is no god but Him, He is the Ever-Living, the Eternal; And I come back to him. (Tirmidhi, Abu Dawood).
Pronunciation: Or ‘Astagfirullah Rabbi Min Qulli Zambion Wa Atubu Ilaihi; La hawla wa la quwaata illa billahil aliyil azim.
Meaning: I ask Allah for the forgiveness of all my sins, I return to Him. There is no power to save from sin and do good deeds without the help of Allah. (Muslim and Tirmidhi).
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي
Pronunciation: Allaahum maghfir lee, warhamnee, wahdinee, wajburnee, wa ‘aafinee, warzuqnee, warfa’nee
O Allah forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, protect me, provide for me, and elevate me. (Ibn Majah: 3845, 1517 At-Tirmidhi: 284)
سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك وتبارك اسمك وتعالى جدك ولا إله غيرك
Pronunciation: Subhanaka Allahumma wa Bihamdika wa Taba-Rakasmuka wa Ta’ala Jadduka wa La-Ilaha Gairuka. (Muslim)
Meaning: O Allah! I declare your holiness from all faults and all your praises, your name is glorious, your dignity is very high and there is no true god or deity except you.
So the above all Surah and hadith are the best prayers for the forgiveness of Allah’s court. The prayers through which Allah forgave Hazrat Adam (peace be upon him). May Allah grant Tawfiq to the Muslim Ummah through this prayer. The beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised repentance to get forgiveness from sins. Besides, he taught such prayers which, if followed, lead to forgiveness of sins. Which is the best education for us, therefore, may Allah protect the Muslim Ummah from all the sins of illegal seeking and obtaining Amen.