The nature of human being is to commit sins. Allah Almighty sent prophets and messengers to teach human being guidance. Both Quran and sunnah taught us how to seek forgiveness when we fall into sins. Allah is the most forgiving and compassionate and loves to forgive the seekers of forgiveness. Allah say:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
"Say: Oh, my servants who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed Allah forgives all sins, for Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran 39:53).
The Messenger of Allah said,
“By the One in Whose Hand my soul is! If you do not commit sins, Allah would replace you with a people who would commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah; and Allah will certainly forgive them.” [ Muslim].
When we seek forgiveness, there are many virtues and benefits that we can have:
Istighfar Provides Sustenance
Allah Almighty says:
فَقُلْتُ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ غَفَّارًۭا ١٠ يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًۭا ١١ وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَٰلٍۢ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّـٰتٍۢ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَـٰرًۭا ١٢
“And (Noah) said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.” He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers. (Quran 71:10-12)
Istighfar opens the door of mercy
Allah Almighty says:
نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Declare (O Muhammad SAW) unto My slaves, that truly, I am the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful. [Al-Hijr 15:49]
Istighfar removes Stress and Anxiety
The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,
“If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety, and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.” (Abu Dawud)
Istighfar is An Eraser of Sins
ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِينَ عَمِلُوا السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوا مِن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌُ
“Then, verily! Your Lord for those who do evil (commit sins and are disobedient to Allâh) in ignorance and afterward repent and do righteous deeds, verily, your Lord thereafter, (to such) is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran 16:119]
"And Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness" [Quran, 8:33]
The Dua (Supplication) is Accepted
"My Lord, forgive me and grant me a kingdom such as will not belong to anyone after me. Indeed, You are the Bestower". [Quran 38:35]
This was the dua of Prophet Sulaiman who started his dua by seeking forgiveness from Allah first and then asking for his request. That request was granted and will stand until the day of judgment. The Prophet Sulaiman was given a kingdom that no one would ever be given after him.
There are four key steps to repentance. An easy way to remember them is through the four 'R's: remorse, repent, resolve, repair.
1. Remorse: Feeling guilty is a sign of faith in your heart. Follow up your misdeed immediately with regret and remorse towards Allah.
2. Repent sincerely by verbalizing ‘astaghfirullah,’ which means, “I seek forgiveness from Allah.”
3. Resolve to never commit the sin again.
4. Repair: If the sin involved wronging someone, make reparations by seeking their forgiveness and recompensing them if possible.
