what is istighfar

Istighfar is an Arabic word that means "seeking forgiveness" from Allah. It is an act of acknowledging ones sins, feeling remorseful, and asking Allah for forgiveness and mercy. Muslims usually say "Astaghfirullah" which literally translates to "I seek forgiveness in God". A longer variant is "Astaġfiru -Allah rabbi wa-ʾatūbu ʾilayh" which means "Verily, I seek the forgiveness of God, who is my Lord and Sustainer, and I turn to Him in repentance". Istighfar is an essential part of Muslim life and is considered one of the ways of finding inner peace and tranquility. It safeguards the supplicant against the evil consequences of their sins and increases the blessings of Allah (both material and spiritual) . Istighfar can be done at any time, and there are several Sunnahs followed by Prophet Muhammads. Istighfar is different from Tawbah, which is repentance, as Istighfar is an act that must be done continuously in a Muslims life, whether they have sinned or not. The benefits of Istighfar include purifying oneself from the physiological results of sins, turning evil deeds into good deeds, and paving the way for attaining nearness to God.