I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to teach me an invocation so that I may invoke Allah with it in my prayer. He told me to say, "Allahumma inni zalumtu nafsi zulman kathiran, Wala yaghfiru dh-dhunuba illa anta, fa ghfir li maghfiratan min `indika, wa r-hamni, innaka anta l-ghafuru r-rahim (O Allah! I have done great injustice to myself and none except You forgives sins, so bestow on me a forgiveness from You, and Have Mercy on me, You are the Forgiver, the Merciful).
Call to Prayers (Adhaan)
Sahih al-Bukhari 834
The Excellence of This Supplication
This noble supplication, transmitted through the authentic chain of Sahih al-Bukhari, contains profound spiritual wisdom. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) specifically taught this invocation for use during prayer, indicating its special merit and acceptance before Allah.
The opening phrase "Allahumma inni zalumtu nafsi zulman kathiran" demonstrates the essential recognition of one's own spiritual state - acknowledging the numerous wrongs committed against one's own soul through disobedience to Allah.
Scholarly Commentary on the Text
"Wala yaghfiru dh-dhunuba illa anta" establishes the fundamental Islamic doctrine of divine exclusivity in forgiveness. This affirms that true forgiveness originates solely from Allah's mercy, not through any intermediary or created being.
The request "fa ghfir li maghfiratan min `indika" seeks forgiveness that emanates directly from Allah's presence, indicating a desire for pure, divine pardon rather than worldly compensation or temporary relief.
The concluding attributes "innaka anta l-ghafuru r-rahim" serve as both a reminder to the supplicant and a form of divine address, affirming Allah's eternal qualities as the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful - the very names that guarantee the acceptance of such pleas.
Practical Implementation in Prayer
Classical scholars recommend reciting this du'a during the prostration (sujood) or in the final sitting position (tashahhud) of the prayer, where supplications are most readily accepted. The comprehensive nature of this prayer makes it suitable for regular use, particularly in the night prayers (tahajjud) when the heart is most receptive.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his commentary Fath al-Bari, emphasizes that this supplication combines acknowledgment of wrongdoing, affirmation of divine unity in forgiveness, and seeking both pardon and mercy - thus encompassing the complete process of repentance.