Prayers for Forgiveness

Hasan Al-Basri, Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

Paperback

9781933764078

Seeking Spiritual Enlightenment through Sincere Supplications, A Collection of Seventy Prayers for Forgiveness

Compiled by Allama Qutb Al-Din Al-Hanafi from Hasan Al-Basri

Arabic Text with Facing English Translation and Transliteration by Abdur-Rahman Ibn Yusuf Mangera

The act of seeking forgiveness is what gives us the opening we need after feeling overwhelmed by the burden of sin. Forgiveness means a way out, another chance, a feeling of hope with which to turn a new page in life. It is through the seeking of forgiveness that we begin to understand that there is no reason whatsoever to despair the mercy of Allah. Islam encourages us to not run away in fear of Allah but rather to turn to Allah the same way a baby would run into its mother's lap. So lovingly does Allah Most High address His sinful servants: "Say (to humanity, O Muhammad): O My servants who have harmed themselves by their own excess, do not despair Allah's mercy. Allah forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. So turn to your Lord. And submit yourselves to Him." (Qur'an 39:53-54)

This collection of seventy prayers for forgiveness (istighfarat) is attributed to one fo the greatest spiritual sages of the past, Hasan al-Basri, and it has been presented here to offer a way for us to navigate through the complications and pitfalls of this life. Set out in Arabic script, with adjoining translation in English, this edition also includes transliteration of the prayers to facilitate reading for those who are not so well-versed in Arabic.