All praise is to Allah, the most merciful and kind. He does not burden us with that which we cannot bear. Praise to Allah! He gives us every opportunity to succeed and sent His beloved messenger to show us how to succeed. Praise is to Allah! He forgives our shortcomings and even taught us how to say sorry. Certainly, we have oppressed ourselves and severely so. None can forgive except for Allah Almighty, We seek His forgiveness humbly and without reservation even though we do not deserve it. We seek His mercy in hope of infinite kindness. Verily, He is Ghafur and Rahim - oft forgiving and the most kind.

Let us stop and cast away any intention to ever disobey Allah Almighty. Let us turn to Allah as the beggars that we are. Lets us praise Him and send salutation upon His beloved prophet (peace be upon him), Muhammad, who was sent as a mercy to all in this world. Let us use the wordings which He has gracefully taught us as he had taught our father before us.

The prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) said,1 the best way to seek forgiveness2 is to say,

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ

Allah! You are my Lord. There is none worthy of worship but you - You created me. I am your slave – To the best of my ability, I am on the pledge and promise to you. I seek you refuge from the evil that I have committed. I admit to you of the favour that you have bestowed upon me. I confess my sins. Forgive me for no one can forgive sins except you.

• 1Bukhari: 6306
• 2Sayyid al-Istighfar