How to Make Istighfar Actually Change You

Do you want to level up your istighfar (seeking forgiveness)?

Then don’t say astaghfirullah.

Don’t just say it.

You are losing all the benefits and opportunities that word gives you.

By just saying it.

What do we mean by that?

Allāh gave us one of the most valuable gifts.

He is the All-Hearing.

He is the The All-Forgiving.

And as long as we ask for forgiveness from Him.

He forgives and covers our sins.

Leaving no trace of them.

Even if they are as much as the foam of the sea.

Even if they reach the clouds.

Even if they are as great as the Earth. 

As long as we are sincere in our repentance and we change our ways

Allah, by His infinite mercy, will forgive us.

Istighfar can be categorized into levels. 

Do you know them?

1) Verbal Istighfar 

The lowest level of istighfar.

It is a simple expression of seeking forgiveness.

As simple as saying astaghfirullah.

With sincere niyyah (intention)

2) Reflective Istighfār

Second level of istighfar.

It complements the verbal istighfār. 

This level is defined as asking for forgiveness after thoroughly reflecting on your mistakes.

Recognize your sins and flaws.

3) Determined repentance

Third level of istighfar.

It is when you add to the previous levels the firm commitment to abandon anything that leads you to sin. 

Including things or persons that you “love” but stray you away from the right path.

4) Tawbah

Highest level of repentance.

It is when you did all of the previous levels.

And you add to them the strongest resolve to never commit that sin again.

No matter what.

This is the level of all the Prophets, even though they are not capable of committing major sins

They never hesitate to seek forgiveness from their Lord.

And as soon as they realized they had done something wrong.

They immediately turned to their Lord.

Prophet Adam عليه السلام : When he and Hawwa ate from the forbidden tree, they realized they made a mistake and asked for forgiveness, saying:

رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ

"Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You don’t forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers” [7:23]

Prophet Yunus عليه السلام : When he was in the belly of the fish, he acknowledged his wrongdoing and asked for forgiveness by saying:

لَّآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.” [21:87]

Use the du’as of the Prophets.

They are powerful.

They are proven.

Erase your sins.

Start doing istighfar daily.

Be sincere.

He will forgive you.

"O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [29:53]

If you want a book with all of the proven du'as from Prophets, angels, and believers directly from the Qur'an, check out our viral Quranic Du'as book here.

 

مع حبي (with love),

The Eternah Team