How to Ask Allah for Forgiveness

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It’s impossible for anyone to remain free of sin or never make a mistake. However, if
you want to be a good Muslim, it’s important to reflect on what you’ve done, ask Allah
for forgiveness, and work on not repeating the behavior again. You can also increase
the power of your prayers for forgiveness by asking at the right times and using special
words. If you want to do even more to seek forgiveness, you can perform acts of
kindness and charity to help purify your heart.

Steps

Method One of Three:

Making a Sincere Request

1.

2.
 1
Identify your mistake or sin. It is very important to realize when you have
strayed from Allah's guidance. Identify what you did, why you did it, and how it
has affected you and other people. Clear your mind, think openly, and accept
your mistakes. Take responsibility for your actions.[1]

 Remember that you have the ability to make choices and each choice you
make has consequences, whether positive or negative.
 Sins create a veil over the heart, which can separate you from Allah.
However, by asking for forgiveness, you can undo this separation.
 Even if you make a minor mistake, ask Allah to forgive you. This will allow
you to learn from it and use it to improve yourself.

3.

2
Ask for forgiveness because you really want to. Do not ask for forgiveness
because other people are pressuring you to do so. Many people might guide you
and tell you what's right and what's not, and if they know that you have
committed a sin, they will suggest you ask for forgiveness. But asking for
forgiveness won't have any effect unless you sincerely repent and seek
forgiveness.[2]
 Try praying for forgiveness as part of your daily routine of worship. This
will help to ensure that you’re always reflecting on your actions and seeking
to improve yourself.

4.

5.

3
Promise not to repeat the mistake and be sincere. You can't ask for
forgiveness with the intention of doing it again. Make sure that you are dedicated
to avoiding the behavior in the future before you ask for forgiveness. Otherwise,
asking for forgiveness is an insincere act and you may not be forgiven. [3]

 For example, if you lied about something to your brother, reflect on why
this was wrong and commit to never doing it again.

Tip: Don’t repeat the same sins. Even minor sins can lead to major sins, and
that may even lead to leaving the fold of Islam.

6.
 7.

4
Recognize if someone else was also affected by your sins or mistakes.
Take some time to reflect on whether your actions hurt other people, and if so,
who those people were and what harm you may have caused them. Once you
identify who may have been harmed by your actions, you will need to ask them
for their forgiveness, too.[4]

 If the sin violated the rights of any other person, like right of money or
property, then it is necessary to restore their rights. For example, if you stole
something from someone, give it back to them.
 If the sin consisted of slandering someone, then seek his forgiveness with
all your heart. Apologize to them for what you said and ask them to forgive
you.

8.

9.
 5
Be grateful that you can ask for forgiveness. Never take Allah’s forgiveness
for granted. Entering the period of repentance without being committed to your
God won't do any good. Have belief in Allah and pray that he will make things
right. Remember, the Quran says:

 “Indeed Allah loves those who repent and purify themselves.“ [Surah Al
Baqarah, 2:222]
 "Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his
repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the
Merciful." [2:37][5]
 He said, "I will ask forgiveness for you from my Lord. Indeed, it is He who
is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [12:98][6]

Method Two of Three:

Finding the Right Time and Way to Pray

1.

2.
1
Perform Salah. Do your prayers with utmost sincerity and reverence toward
Allah. Perform the five compulsory salaat. If you can, try to do them at a
mosque. The calm and devoted environment might help you. Do not hesitate
from performing additional Sunnah (recommended) and Nafl (voluntary) rakats.
They will count heavily in your favour, especially if you do them consistently.

 Salaat is the key to developing a close connection with Allah and must be
prioritized within the daily schedule of every Muslim.

3.

4.

2
Ask Allah for forgiveness after the salaat (prayers). Once you have
completed your salaat, this is a good time to ask forgiveness. Offer your prayers
at the right time and with the right attitude and devotion.

 Allah says in the Quran, “And perform Salaat, at the two ends of the day
and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory Salaat].” (Hud
11:114).
Tip: Praying two ra'kaah of Salaah attentively can also aid your seeking of
forgiveness.The Prophet (S.A.W.S) said, “He who performs ablution properly,
then prays any two rak’aah (of salaah) without being heedless, will get all his
previous sins forgiven.” (Ahmad).

5.

6.

3
Continue to ask Allah for forgiveness day and night. Depending on the
severity of your sin, you might not be forgiven in a day. Seeking forgiveness is a
slow process of improving yourself from within. Seeking forgiveness could be a
long, tiring path, but this will be to your benefit in the long run.

 The Prophet (S.A.W.S) said: “Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch
out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and
continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night
may repent, until the sun rises from the west (the start of Day of Judgment)”.
[Sahih Muslim].[7]

7.
 8.

4
Use Allah's different names that attribute his kindness and forgiveness.
The most suitable of the names include Al-’Afuww (He who pardons), Al-Ghafoor
(He who forgives), and Al-Ghaffaar (The Oft-Forgiving). Using one or all of these
names might help to increase the power of your prayers. [8]

 “And Allah has the most excellent and perfect names, so worship and
invoke Him by them” (Al-A’raaf, 7:180)

9.

10.
 5
Recite the duas to seek forgiveness. The duas are prayers of supplication.
You can recite duas as a special way to ask Allah for forgiveness. Some options
include:

 "They said, "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not
forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.""
[7:23][9]
 Recite Astaghfirullah constantly. Say it 3 times after every salat and
minimum of 100 times a day. It means, "I seek forgiveness from Allah".
 Allah's Messenger (‫ )ﷺ‬said, "Whoever says, 'Subhan Allah wa
bihamdihi,' 100 times a day, will be forgiven all his sins even if they were as
much as the foam of the sea. [Sahih al-Bukhari 6405] [10]

Method Three of Three:

Using Acts to Seek Forgiveness

1.

2.

1
Plan to fast during the month of Ramadan. It is the most important time for
any Muslim to show his devotion towards Allah. Moreover, it is considered the
“month of forgiveness.” Delve deep into sincerity and devotion during this time to
seek forgiveness for your sins.[11]

 Prophet (S.A.W.S) said: “The five daily prayers and one Jumu’ah to the
next, and one Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation for what lies
between them as as long as one refrains from the major sins.” [Sahih
Muslim]

3.

4.

2
Perform good deeds to erase bad deeds. Focus on doing good deeds that
Allah appreciates. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds.[11:114] [12] Look
for opportunities to help your neighbors in your daily life.

 For example, you could help your neighbor carry in a heavy piece of
furniture, give a ride to a coworker whose car is in the shop, or buy a meal
for a homeless person.

5.
 6.

3
Do charity (Zakat). Zakat is a nice way to wash away your sins, which will not
only make you feel light, but will also make someone else's life better. Donate to
a charity regularly or offer your time if you cannot afford to give money, such as
by volunteering at a local soup kitchen.[13]

Tip: Keep in mind that your desire to help others is more important than the
amount you give. If you can only afford to donate $1 (USD), then that’s fine!

4
Perform Hajj if you’ve committed a major sin and are able to go. A hajj is a
religious pilgrimage. It is said that all your sins would be washed away when you
go on a hajj for the first time. However, a spiritual pilgrimage is a big
undertaking, so this might not be a realistic option for everyone. [14]

 This might be something you’d do if you’ve committed a major sin and are
seeking total spiritual purification.

7.
 8.

5
Do little things that can help you when seeking forgiveness. Small moments
of mindfulness during prayer, surrounding yourself with the right people, and
how you dress may also affect how Allah receives your request for forgiveness.
Look for minor things you can do to bolster your spiritual life.

 Saying "Ameen." The Prophet (S.A.W.S) said, “When the Imaam says
‘Ameen’, say ‘Ameen’, because he who coincides with the angels when
saying Ameen will get all his previous sins forgiven.” (Al-Bukhaari &
Muslim).
 Being around people, or in a gathering of people mindful of Allah. It is very
important to be away from bad company or any person who distracts you
from the holy path of Islam.
 Following the Islamic dress code will help you remember Allah and remind
you of the need for full obedience.