Part 9 (a): The Third Supplication (Morning/Evening): The Divine Protection

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Read the previous Part 9: The Third Supplication

The Third Supplication: “O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You. You created me and I am your slave. I keep Your covenant, and my pledge to You so far as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I admit to Your blessings upon me, and I admit to my misdeeds. Forgive me, for there is none who may forgive sins but You.”

This dua’ is called the master supplication of seeking forgiveness.

The Excellence of Seeking Allah’s Forgiveness

• Whoever keeps asking Allah for forgivenss; he will be following the sunnah of the Messenger (SAW) who said, “Verily, I seek Allah’s forgiveness every day more than seventy times.” (Bukhari)
• Asking Allah for forgivness is a safety from His punishment. Allah says:

  “But Allah would not punish them while you, [O Muhammad], are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.” (Al Anfal: 33)

• The great proclamation of Mouh (AS) about Al Istigfaar (forgiveness). Allah says:

  “And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” (Nuh: 10-12)

• Hud (AS) confirms the declaration of his ancestor. Allah says:

  “And O my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength [added] to your strength. And do not turn away, [being] criminals.”  (Hud: 52)

• And finally, the call to make Istigfaar with repentance is a key element in the mission of the final Messenger (SAW).

The plots of Satan are foiled and thwarted with Istigfaar. Examine the following beautiful Hadith.

Narrated Abu Said Al Khudri (SAW) that the Prophet said: “Verily Shaytan said: By Your Dignity, O Lord, I will keep misleading your servants as long as their spirits are still in their bodies (as long as they live). The Lord, the Most Blessed and the Most High said: “By My Dignity and Glory, I will keep forgiving them as long as they keep asking for my forgiveness.” (Classifies as Hassan)

Istighfaar was the initial and immediate reaction of Adam and his wife (AS) after they committed the first human sin and ate from the forbidden tree.

Allah says:

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.” (Al- A’raf:23)

The stain of the hearts is removed with Al Istigfaar. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “When a believer sins, a black spot appears on his heart, but if he repents and seeks Allah’s forgiveness; his heart becomes cleansed and polished. However, if he continues to commit more sins (without seekng forgiveness), the spot continues to spread and ultimately covers all of his heart. This is the rust which Allah mentioned in the Qur’an.

“No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.” (Al Mutafifeen: 14)

Read the next Part 9 (b): The Third Supplication (Guaranteed effectiveness of al istighfaar)