The greatest name of Allah is Allah itself — the personal name of God that encompasses all of His other names and attributes. In the series “In the Names of Allah,” this episode explores two of the most important supplications the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught, both beginning with “Allahumma” (O Allah): the Master Supplication of Repentance for cleansing our past, and the Istikhara prayer for guiding our future.
The Master Supplication of Repentance (Sayyid al-Istighfar)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said the most superior form of seeking forgiveness is: “O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, following Your covenant and my promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. Before You I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I confess my sins to You. So forgive me, for indeed no one forgives sins besides You.” Whoever says this during the day with conviction and dies before evening, or says it in the evening and dies before morning, will be among the people of Paradise.
“The most superior request for forgiveness is to say: O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no God beside You. You created me and I am Your servant…” — Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Conditions for Repentance to Work
- Feel genuine remorse — The Prophet said “remorse is repentance”; without sadness over what you’ve done, the words are an empty ritual
- Stop the sin — You cannot ask forgiveness while still smoking, drinking, cheating, or continuing the sin; give it up first
- Intend not to return — A sincere intention to never repeat the act is essential
- Return others’ rights — If you’ve stolen property or wronged someone, repentance requires making it right before seeking Allah’s pardon
The Istikhara Prayer for the Future
“If any of you decides on a matter, he should pray two units of voluntary prayer and then say: O Allah, I seek Your guidance to what is good for me because of Your infinite knowledge…” — Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Istikhara is not about receiving a dream in green or red — that notion is completely baseless. After gathering information and making a decision, you pray two voluntary units and turn the affair over to Allah. If the path opens easily and blessings become apparent, proceed. If obstacles multiply and the matter becomes difficult, recognize that Allah is steering you away. No one else can make istikhara on your behalf — not your parents, not a shaykh. It is your decision, your prayer, and your affair entrusted to the One who knows the unseen.
