The word · The heart
الاسْتِغْفَار
Istighfar
Asking Allah for forgiveness, usually in the words astaghfirullah.
Also written · Istighfaar · Istaghfar · Estighfar · Astaghfirullah · Astagfirullah · Astaghfirullah hal azeem · Seeking forgiveness · Asking forgiveness · Sayyid al-Istighfar · Saying astaghfirullah
The meaning
What Istighfar means in Islam
The Qur'an links it to relief and provision, quoting Nuh telling his people to seek forgiveness of their Lord (Qur'an 71:10). The Prophet peace be upon him, already promised forgiveness for what preceded and what would follow (Qur'an 48:2), said he sought forgiveness a hundred times a day, in Muslim. Istighfar is the request; tawbah is the turn. They are usually done together, though a person can ask for pardon before they have managed to leave the sin.
Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an
Read beside it
Rooms that name it
Words that sit beside it
- TawbahTurning back to Allah from a sin: stopping it, regretting it, and resolving not to return.التَّوْبَة
- InabahTurning to Allah as a settled direction of life, not only as a return after one sin.الإِنَابَة
- DhikrRemembrance of Allah, in set phrases and in the wider habit of not forgetting Him.الذِّكْر
- Kaba'irMajor sins: the ones the texts single out with a punishment, a curse, or a warning of the Fire.الكَبَائِر
More from The heart
- 'AfwPardon: dropping a wrong you are owed, without the other person having to earn it.العَفْو
- GhaflahHeedlessness: not the denial of the truth, but the habit of never getting round to it.الغَفْلَة
- KhawfFear of Allah: the awareness of His justice that keeps a person from walking off the edge.الخَوْف
- NasihahSincere advice: wanting good for someone and telling them, privately and without an audience.النَّصِيحَة
- Sakha'Generosity: giving easily, before being asked, without making the receiver pay in dignity.السَّخَاء
- TafakkurDeliberate reflection on creation and on your own life, treated as an act of worship.التَّفَكُّر