Introduction of prayer:
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) taught this prayer to be recited after every obligatory Salah. This is a comprehensive prayer for forgiveness, mercy, righteousness, safety and sustenance. Imam Muslim reported this prayer in his Sahih;
أَبُو مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا أَسْلَمَ عَلَّمَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم الصَّلاَةَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَدْعُوَ بِهَؤُلاَءِ الْكَلِمَاتِ “ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي ” .
Abu Malik reported on the authority of his father that when a person embraced Islam, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to teach him how to observe prayer and then commanded him to supplicate in these words:
” O Allah, grant me pardon, have mercy upon me, direct me to the path of righteousness, grant me protection and provide me sustenance.”( Sahih Muslim: 2697b)
Exposition & virtues of prayer:
1- اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي (O Allah, grant me pardon):
Maghfirah is Allah’s forgiveness for your sin but on the Judgment Day it will be written on your record, Allah will ask you about it but He won’t punish you because of it. Every one of us commits sins and errors. After sinning, those who regret and ask pardon from their Lord, Allah Kareem shows His Grace on them and forgives them. The Qur’an states the prayer of the believers in Surah Ali ‘Imran, verse: 193;
رَبَّنَا فَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّـَٔاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ ٱلْأَبْرَارِ
Our Lord! Forgive our sins, absolve us of our misdeeds, and join us with the virtuous when we die.
Allah Kareem mentions the prayer of Sayyidna Adam (as) for maghfirah in Surah Al-‘Araf: 23;
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ
Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers.
There is also a short and beautiful prayer of Sayyidna Musa (as) for maghfirah;
رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِى فَٱغْفِرْ لِى فَغَفَرَ لَهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
My Lord! I have definitely wronged my soul, so forgive me.” So He forgave him, ˹for˺ He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Al-Qasas: 16)
So, when asking maghfirah is the blessed practice of the prophets we should abundantly ask for it. It is reported from the Prophet (pbuh);
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مَنْ عَلِمَ أَنِّي ذُو قُدْرَةٍ عَلَى مَغْفِرَةِ الذُّنُوبِ غَفَرْتُ لَهُ وَلَا أُبَالِي مَا لَمْ يُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty said: Whoever knows that I have the power to forgive all sins, I will forgive him and I will not hesitate as long as he does not associate any partner with Me.”(Al-Mo’jam Al-Kabir for Tabrani: 241/11)
2- وَارْحَمْنِي (have mercy upon me):
Rahmah means Grace and Mercy of Allah. From the root word of ر ح م, there are two Blessed names of Allah Kareem, Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim. Ar-Rahman means the Most Gracious and Ar-Rahim means The Most Compassionate. Allah Kareem describes His mercy in Qur’an;
وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ
But My mercy encompasses everything. (Surah Al-‘Araf: 156)
Allah Kareem says to mankind while mentioning His Mercy in Surah Al-Mai’dah, verse: 74;
أَفَلَا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُۥ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٧٤
Why turn they not to Allah, and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Allah Kareem consoles the sinners very kindly, by saying;
۞ قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surah Az-Zumar: 53)
3- وَاهْدِنِي (direct me to the path of righteousness):
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) asked the guidance on the right path from Allah Kareem in this prayer. Indeed this is the first prayer taught by Allah Kareem in the Quran, in Surah Fatiha;
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us along the Straight Path.
The guidance mentioned in the Surah implies being directed and guided to success. Man asked Allah Kareem for guidance and the whole Qur’an is the answer to this request. Allah Kareem commanded His servants to proclaim;
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلْوَهَّابُ
Our Lord! Do not let our hearts deviate after you have guided us. Grant us Your mercy. You are indeed the Giver ˹of all bounties˺. (Surah Ali ‘Imran: 8)
4- وَعَافِنِي (grant me protection):
“The word ‘Aafiyah means that Allah safeguards a person from sickness or hardships; it is having good health which is the opposite of sickness.
5- وَارْزُقْنِي (and provide me sustenance):
At the end of the prayer, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) requested Allah Kareem for sustenance and provision. Allah Kareem is the Creator of all creatures and He Almighty is the Sustainer of them. Everyone facing problems of having enough sustenance should call upon Allah Kareem. The Qur’an has mentioned repeatedly in different verses that Allah Kareem is the the Best Provider.
وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
And Allah is the Best Provider. (Surah Al-Jumu’ah: 11)
Allah Kareem says in Surah Adh-Dhariyat, verse: 58;
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلرَّزَّاقُ ذُو ٱلْقُوَّةِ ٱلْمَتِينُ
Indeed, Allah alone is the Supreme Provider—Lord of all Power, Ever Mighty.
Sayyidna Ibrahim (as) advised his nation to worship Allah alone and ask to Him for every thing you need;
إِنَّمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْثَـٰنًۭا وَتَخْلُقُونَ إِفْكًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًۭا فَٱبْتَغُوا۟ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرِّزْقَ وَٱعْبُدُوهُ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لَهُۥٓ ۖ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
ou worship besides Allah nothing but idols, simply creating lies ˹about them˺. Those you worship besides Allah certainly cannot give you any provision. So seek provision from Allah ˹alone˺, worship Him, and be grateful to Him. To Him you will ˹all˺ be returned. (Surah Al-‘Ankabut: 17)
When this prayer should be recited?
The Prophet (pbuh) advised the believers to recite this prayer after every obligatory Salah.
