The Prophet Muhammad has taught us many words of repentance
and it is good if we learn
understand
and use them. Of these one has been
mentioned as Sayidu-Al 'Istighfār. A hadith explains its extra
ordinary significance:
"If a believer says this with complete faith
and sincerity in the morning and dies before that evening
he will enter
paradise. If he says it during the night and dies before the morning
he
will enter paradise."
O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no God
except You.
Al-Lahumma 'Anta Rabbī Lā 'Ilāha 'Illā 'Anta
You
created me and I am Your slave.
Khalaqtanī Wa 'Anā `Abduka
To the best of my ability
I will abide by
my covenant and pledge to You.
Wa 'Anā `Alaá `Ahdika Wa Wa`dika Mā Astaţa`tu
I seek Your protection from the evil of my
own creation.
'A`ūdhu Bika MinSharri Mā Şana`tu
I acknowledge Your favors to me and I admit my sins.
'Abū'u Laka Bini`matika `Alayya Wa 'Abū'u Laka Bidhanbī
So please forgive me for no one can
forgive sins except You.
This powerful du`a' is our daily pledge of
allegiance. We will do well to memorize it in Arabic and never let a day or
night go by without saying it with full consciousness
