Istighfar can be avidly described as the believer's weapon against the temptations of Satan. Needless to say, succumbing to the devil's temptations can only carve a single path - the path to Hellfire. That's how significant the weapon of Istighfar is.
Istighfar is the prayer of repentance to Allah Almighty, begging forgiveness for our wrongdoings. It is a prayer seeking His pardon, mercy and protection from the hurtful consequences of misdeeds and transgressions.
Istighfar is derived from Gh-f-r (غ-ف-ر), which means covering for protection from dirt.
Astaghfirullah literally translates to "I seek forgiveness from Allah." It is often recited after prayers, during zikr (praising Allah), it is mentioned during conversations as a symbol of humility and often stated if someone sees, hears or reads something grossly inappropriate or dishonorable.
Istighfar and some other words from the same root such as Ghafir, Al-Ghafoor, Ghaffar occur in the Noble Qur'an many times. Kindly view the following Verses:
3:135-136 (use of words
yaghfiru and
maghfiratun)
66:8 (us of the word
wa-igh'fir)
5:74 (use of words
wayastaghfirūnahu and
ghafūrun)
11:3 (use of word
is'taghfirū)
Often people want to seek Istighfar shortly prior to dawn (fajr), viewed as the best time.
"And in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness," (51:18).
"The patient, the true, the obedient, those who spend [in the way of Allah], and those who seek forgiveness before dawn." (3:17). But one can ask Allah for forgiveness at any time. The reason Allah highlights the aspect of seeking forgiveness before dawn is because this is a quiet time without earthly interruptions. People who are often distracted from their mistakes throughout the busy day, are able to think clearer and reflect better during this calm period before dawn and thus recognize their missteps more easily. The better you are able to understand your mistakes, the more sincere will by your repentance.
Indeed Allah Almighty has stated in His Final Noble Message many times that He is oft Forgiving, Merciful, to those who seek His mercy and clemency.
“But whoso repents after his wrongdoing and amends, indeed! Allah will relent toward him. Indeed! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (5:39).
"O you who believe! Turn unto Allah in sincere repentance! It may be that your Rab will remit from you your evil deeds and bring you into Gardens underneath which rivers flow, on the day when Allah will not abase the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their light will run before them and on their right hands; they will say: Our Rab! Perfect our light for us, and forgive us! Indeed! You are Able to do all things." (66:8).
At the same time you got to remember that seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) by parroting the term "Astaghfirullah" as a ritual yet persisting on your past sins with no intentions of quitting is not only a waste of time but such an approach is itself a sin. It surely won't benefit you but could be very hurtful for your soul. It amounts to making a mockery of your Istighfar. The significance of Istighfar is to repent or make taubah over your past misdeeds and to make a firm intent NEVER to repeat those violations. Otherwise Istighfar will serve no purpose.
"Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah. These are they toward whom Allah relents. Allah is ever Knower, Wise. The forgiveness is not for those who do ill-deeds until, when death attends upon one of them, he says: indeed! I repent now; nor yet for those who die while they are disbelievers. For such We have prepared a painful doom." (4:17-18). 
As the saying goes, "
for every second you are in sujood, you are humiliating Shaitaan, so prolong your sujood."
Though all Quranic Verses on repentance are beautiful, my favorite Quranic repentance is "
La ilaha illa anta, Subhanaka, Inni kuntu minaz-zalimin" (21:87). This Verse is the well known Ayat-e-Kareema, also referred to as Tasbih-e-Yunus. Tasbih ( تَـسْـبِـيْـح ) is zikr with repeated utterances of short sentences in praise and glorification of Allah. The short sentences can be Quranic Verses or extra-Quranic sentences in praise of The Almighty. Needless to say, picking your praises for Allah from His Final Book is of much greater significance. The repentance stated in Verse 21:87 translates to "
There is no Allah save YOU. Be YOU Glorified! Indeed! I have been a wrong-doer." This is the repentance of Prophet Yunus referred as "
Dhun Nun" which means 'man of the fish' alluding to Prophet Yunus swallowed by the big fish (most likely it was a whale) and then saved by The Almighty. To truly appreciate the beauty of this repentance, read the post
Yunus (or Jonah) in the Noble Quran.In the Noble Quran there are several narrations that highlight human mistakes including mistakes of Prophets and their families. This also debunks the rigid opinion of our jurists that Prophets and their families are infallible. The great quality of infallibility belongs ONLY to ALLAH, THE ALMIGHTY. Learn more on this topic:
Attributing infallibility to humans.Related posts:
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Repentance and returning to Allah-
On Surah Al-Fatiha-
Ista'adha (إِستَعَاذَ ) - Taking protection in Allah -
Beauty of Sujood (Prostration) -
What is Dua-e-Kumail? -
Is perfection or infallibility inherent of humans?
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