Duas for forgiveness and repentance
Supplications for forgiveness of sins and repentance — the duas of Adam and Musa from the Quran and the words of istighfar from the Sunnah, with Arabic text and translation.
Asking forgiveness is where the return to Allah begins. In the Quran the first such supplication belongs to Adam and Hawwa (peace be upon them): "Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves" (7:23). The people of Musa prayed with almost the same words after their mistake (7:149).
This page gathers eighteen Quranic supplications for forgiveness and repentance — from the shortest, which closes Surah al-Mu’minun (23:118), to the long plea of those endowed with understanding (3:193) and the request of the angels for those who repent (40:7–9). Two chapters from the Sunnah stand beside them: the words of istighfar and repentance, and what is said after committing a sin.
The Quranic supplications differ in standing from those transmitted through hadith: they are the text of the Book itself. Each carries its sura and ayah, so it can be checked against the mushaf in a minute; the supplications from the Sunnah carry their hadith source.
Chapters in this category
Supplications from the Quran
- The dua of Adam — the first plea for forgivenessQuran 7:23
- The short supplication for forgiveness — the last verse of the surahQuran 23:118
- For a lightened burden and forgivenessQuran 2:286
- Forgiveness and refuge from the FireQuran 3:16
- Answering the call to faithQuran 3:193
- For forgiveness, firmness and helpQuran 3:147
- "We hear and we obey"Quran 2:285
- Musa's supplication after a mistakeQuran 28:16
- The repentance of MusaQuran 7:143
- Remorse after a mistakeQuran 7:149
- Forgiveness for oneself and one's brotherQuran 7:151
- "You are our Protector"Quran 7:155–156
- On not asking for what one does not knowQuran 11:47
- Forgiveness and mercyQuran 23:109
- The repentance of BilqisQuran 27:44
- Forgiveness for oneself, one's parents and all the believersQuran 14:41
- Forgiveness for parents, household and all the believersQuran 71:28
- The angels' supplication for the believersQuran 40:7–9
Related categories
- Morning and evening adhkarMorning and evening adhkar — a collection of duas and remembrances of Allah to be recited after Fajr and after Asr, with Arabic text, translation, and audio.
- Duas before sleep and upon waking upDuas and adhkar to recite before sleep and upon waking, including Ayat al-Kursi, al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq, and an-Nas with translation and audio.
- Daily duas — clothing, home, and the streetDuas when dressing and undressing, entering and leaving the home, and using the toilet — the complete set of everyday adhkar.
- Duas for wudu and prayerAdhkar before and after ablution (wudu), and all duas inside prayer — from takbir to salam, including sujood, ruku, tashahhud, and salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
- Duas before and after eatingAdhkar before eating, after eating, when drinking, for the host, for the one who gave you drink, for iftar at someone's home, and for the first fruits of the season.
- Duas for travelThe complete traveler's duas: before setting out, on mounting, on ascents and descents, on entering a town, on stopping, and on returning home.