Prayer for Seeking Forgiveness | Road to Forgiveness (Part 2)

Path to Piety

Road to Forgiveness

Part 2

Mawlānā Muhammad Nawāz ʿAṭṭāri Madani

Whether a deed appears to be great or small, we should observe it to please Allah and attain His forgiveness.

Five Hadith of the Final Prophet صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ

1. The Supplication of Dirham al-Kays

“Whoever awakens at night, and says:

لَآاِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِیْکَ لَهٗ لَهُ الْمُلْکُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَہُوَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْئٍ قَدِیْر، اَلْحَمْدُلِلّٰهِ وَ سُبْحانَ اللّٰهِ وَلَااِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ اَکْبَرُ وَلَاحَوْلَ وَلَاقُوَّۃَ اِلَّابِاللّٰه,

followed by:

اَللّٰہُمَ اغْفِرلِیْ 

‘O Allah! Forgive me!’

or any other prayer, it will be accepted. If he then makes wudu ˹and offers salah˺, his salah will be accepted.”^[1]

This refers to whether a person prays for forgiveness or for any matter; its acceptance is certain.^[2] This powerful supplication is called Dirham al-Kays. You should recite it as soon as you wake up for tahajjud. Even if someone wakes up in the last portion of the night and does not offer tahajjud, they should still recite this supplication. They will still reap its benefits, Allah willing.^[3]

2. Reciting Sūrah Yāsīn

“Whoever recites Surah Yāsīn at night to please Allah will be forgiven.”^[4]

Alongside bringing good news of forgiveness for the reciter, this sacred Surah is described as the heart of the Quran. Reciting it once gives the reciter the same reward as reciting the Quran ten times.^[5] It should be recited every night.

3. Reciting Surah al-Dukhān

“Whoever recites al-Dukhān on Friday night (the night between Thursday and Friday), will be forgiven.”^[6]

Another report states that the one reciting this Surah at night will awaken in a state that 70,000 angels will be seeking forgiveness for him.^[7] If not every day, try to recite it every Thursday night.

4. Reciting Surah al-Mulk

“There is a Surah of thirty verses in the Quran. It will intercede for its reciter until he is forgiven. ˹This Surah is˺ al-Mulk.”^[8]

Try your best to recite this at least once every day.

5. Reciting the Tahlīl (لَااِلٰهَ اِلَّا الـلّٰـهُ)

There is a pillar of light in front of Allah’s Throne. When a servant recites لَااِلٰهَ اِلَّا الـلّٰـهُ, the pillar begins to shake. ‘Remain still!’ Allah orders, and it ˹humbly˺ replies, ‘How can I remain still, when You have not yet forgiven those who recite this statement?’ Allah then says, ‘I have forgiven them.’ The pillar then becomes still.^[9]

Recite the tahlīl from time to time. You will reap countless blessings in both worlds, if Allah wills.