“Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ) is a short dua that translates to “I seek the forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance.” Aishah (RA) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said this exact phrase frequently in the days before his death (Riyad as-Salihin 1877; Muttafaq alayh), and Abu Hurayra (RA) narrated that he repeated it more than seventy times a day throughout his life (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307), even though his sins were already forgiven. This guide covers the Arabic text, word-by-word meaning, spelling variants, the three escalating forms used by the Prophet, how this dua differs from Sayyidul Istighfar, when and how often to say it, and authentic hadith sources, with each grade disclosed honestly.
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Astaghfirullah Wa Atubu Ilaih in Arabic, Transliteration & English
The dua is recited in Arabic and is short enough that most Muslims memorise it within a single sitting. Below is the full phrase with diacritics, transliteration, and the English meaning agreed upon by classical translators.
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh
“I seek the forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance.”
Word-by-Word Meaning
Breaking the dua into its four components clarifies why scholars call it a complete act of istighfar rather than a casual phrase. The verb forms used signal both the request for forgiveness and the active turning back to Allah.
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أَسْتَغْفِرُ | Astaghfir(u) | I seek forgiveness / I ask covering |
| اللَّهَ | Allah(a) | Allah (direct object of the verb) |
| وَأَتُوبُ | wa atub(u) | and I turn / I return in repentance |
| إِلَيْهِ | ilayh(i) | to Him |
The verb astaghfir belongs to Form X of the Arabic root غ-ف-ر (ghayn-fa-ra), which carries the underlying meaning of “covering” or “concealing.” When you ask Allah for maghfirah, you are asking Him to both cover the sin and protect you from its consequences, which is a deeper request than a simple “sorry.” The conjunction wa (“and”) plus atubu turns the phrase from a one-sided request into a two-sided commitment: ask for covering and actively turn back.
Spelling Variants You May See
English transliteration of Arabic is not standardised, so the same dua appears under several spellings across articles, books, and apps. All of the variants below refer to the exact same Arabic words, and any of them is acceptable when typing or searching.
| Variant | Why it appears |
|---|---|
| Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh | Academic transliteration of إِلَيْهِ (closest to classical Arabic). |
| Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilaih | Most common simplified spelling in English Islamic publications. |
| Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayhi | Adds the final kasrah ending; used by hadith translators on sunnah.com. |
| Astaghfirullah wa atoubu ilaih | French-influenced spelling, common in North African sources. |
| Astaghfirullah hallazi la ilaha illallah wa atubu ilaih | South-Asian spelling of the longer form (see Three-Tier Ladder below). |
The Three-Tier Ladder of Istighfar
The Prophet (ﷺ) taught three increasingly complete forms of istighfar. Each one is authentic, and scholars note that the longer forms carry weightier promises in the hadith literature. You can use any of them in your daily dhikr, but knowing the ladder helps you choose deliberately.
Tier 1 — The short form. Just “Astaghfirullah” (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ) means “I seek the forgiveness of Allah.” It is the form the Prophet recited three times after every obligatory prayer (Riyad as-Salihin 1876) and the easiest to fit into any moment of dhikr. For the meaning of the short form on its own, see our full guide to the Astaghfirullah meaning.
Related:
Tier 2 — Adding “wa atubu ilayh.” This is the focus of this article. It pairs the request for forgiveness with an active commitment to return. The Prophet recited it more than 70 times per day in one narration (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307) and 100 times per day in another (Sahih Muslim 2702).
Tier 3 — The longest form. “Astaghfirullah-alladhi la ilaha illa Huwa al-Hayy al-Qayyum wa atubu ilayh” (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ) adds two of Allah’s names, al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and al-Qayyum (the Self-Subsisting), to the request. The Prophet (ﷺ) said whoever recites it, his sins are forgiven even if he had fled from the battlefield (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3577, graded hasan; also Sunan Abi Dawud 1517, graded sahih by al-Albani). For a focused walkthrough of this longer prophetic form, see our Astaghfirullah-al-Adheem guide.
When and How Often to Recite
The Sunnah gives several specific windows for “Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh,” but none of them restrict you to those windows only. Istighfar is one of the few forms of worship with no fixed count, no fixed time, and no minimum threshold — you can say it under your breath while driving or before sleep, and it still counts.
- Three times after every obligatory salah, as a Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) reported by Thauban (Riyad as-Salihin 1876).
- 70 to 100 times per day as a daily target, mirroring the Prophet’s own practice (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307; Sahih Muslim 2702).
- In the last third of the night, before Fajr, when the believers seek forgiveness (Quran 51:18).
- Immediately after a sin or wrongdoing, paired with the firm resolve not to repeat it (Quran 3:135 — Surah Ali Imran).
- Throughout the day as unrestricted dhikr — Aishah (RA) reported the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say “Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi; astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh” frequently in the days before his death (Riyad as-Salihin 1877; Muttafaq alayh).
Authentic Hadith Sources
Every hadith below is cited with its book, number, and grade so you can verify it on sunnah.com. Where a hadith is graded weak (da’if) by a major scholar, this is stated explicitly — a courtesy most online dua articles skip.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6307 — Abu Hurayra (RA): “By Allah, I ask the forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” Grade: Sahih.
- Sahih Muslim 2702 — Al-Aghar al-Muzani (RA): the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “There is (at times) some sort of shade upon my heart, and I seek forgiveness from Allah a hundred times a day.” Grade: Sahih.
- Riyad as-Salihin 1876 — Thauban (RA): the Prophet (ﷺ) would say “Astaghfirullah” three times after finishing his salah. Grade: Sahih (Muslim).
- Riyad as-Salihin 1877 — Aishah (RA): the Prophet (ﷺ) frequently said “Subhan Allahi wa bihamdihi; astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh” in the days before his death. Grade: Sahih (Muttafaq alayh). This narration is the strongest evidence that the Prophet chose this exact phrase as a daily anchor at the end of his life.
- Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3577 — the long form (al-Hayy al-Qayyum), sins forgiven even if fled from battle. Grade: Hasan. Sunan Abi Dawud 1517 reports the same dua with a sahih grading per al-Albani.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1518 — Ibn Abbas (RA): “Whoever clings to istighfar, Allah will appoint a way out of every distress, a relief from every anxiety, and provide sustenance from where he does not expect.” Grade: Da’if (declared weak by Shaykh al-Albani in Da’if Sunan Abi Dawud). The meaning is widely circulated and consistent with Quran 71:10–12, but the chain is weak, so we cite it with that caveat.
Benefits Backed by Quran & Sunnah
The promised benefits of istighfar are not folk wisdom; they are stated directly in the Quran and the authentic Sunnah. The verses below speak of forgiveness, but they also promise tangible worldly returns — rain, wealth, and offspring — for the one who makes istighfar a habit.
- Forgiveness of sins, large or small. “Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives anything besides that for whom He wills” (Quran 4:48). Istighfar is the key to this gate.
- Rain, wealth, and offspring. Surah Nuh: “Ask forgiveness of your Lord; indeed He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send rain from the sky in showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and rivers” (Quran 71:10–12).
- Enjoyment in this life until a set term. “And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then turn to Him in repentance, and He will give you good enjoyment for a specified term” (Quran 11:3, Surah Hud).
- A way out of distress. Allah praises those who “remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins” after wrongdoing (Quran 3:135, Surah Ali Imran).
- Following the Prophet’s Sunnah. Since the Prophet (ﷺ) himself recited it 70–100 times a day despite being sinless, every recitation is a direct act of ittiba’ (following his way).
Astaghfirullah Wa Atubu Ilaih vs Sayyidul Istighfar
Both duas appear back-to-back in Sahih al-Bukhari (6306 and 6307) and both are taught directly by the Prophet (ﷺ), but they serve different functions in your daily worship. Sayyidul Istighfar (the “master of seeking forgiveness”) is a longer, fixed-text dua tied to a powerful morning-and-evening promise, while “Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” is a short, repetition-friendly dhikr you can stitch into the gaps of your day.
| Aspect | Astaghfirullah Wa Atubu Ilayh | Sayyidul Istighfar |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4 words (very short) | ~50 words (multi-clause) |
| Hadith source | Sahih al-Bukhari 6307; Sahih Muslim 2702; Riyad as-Salihin 1877 | Sahih al-Bukhari 6306 (the hadith just before) |
| How often | 70–100 times per day; after each salah; continuous dhikr | Once in the morning, once in the evening |
| Stated reward | Forgiveness; with the long al-Hayy al-Qayyum form, even sins of fleeing battle are pardoned (Tirmidhi 3577) | Whoever says it in the morning with conviction and dies before evening enters Jannah; same applies vice versa (Bukhari 6306) |
| Best use case | High-frequency dhikr stitched into the day | A deliberate twice-daily ritual you sit with |
| Memorisation effort | Minutes | A few sittings |
The two are complementary, not competitive. Most companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) used both: Sayyidul Istighfar morning and evening as a daily seal, and “Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” as the connective tissue between prayers, errands, and conversations. For the full Sayyidul Istighfar text, hadith, and explanation, see our dedicated Sayyidul Istighfar guide.
Istighfar vs Tawbah — What’s the Difference?
People use “istighfar” and “tawbah” interchangeably, but classical scholars draw a clear line. Istighfar is the verbal request: “O Allah, cover and forgive my sin.” Tawbah is the inward act of turning back: regret over the sin, abandoning it, and a firm resolve never to repeat it. The dua “astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” deliberately joins both — the tongue asks for forgiveness, and the heart resolves to return.
Classical scholars (Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Nawawi) list three conditions for a valid tawbah from a sin between you and Allah:
- Stop the sin immediately. Continuing to commit it while saying the dua makes the words hollow.
- Regret what you did. Genuine remorse, not just embarrassment at being caught.
- Resolve never to return to it. A firm intention; if you slip later, you simply renew the tawbah.
If the sin involved another person’s rights (money owed, harm done), a fourth condition applies: return the right or seek their pardon. Saying “astaghfirullah” while planning to keep doing the same thing is not the tawbah described in the Quran — it is closer to what scholars call tawbat al-kadhibin (the repentance of liars).
Common Misconceptions
- “Saying it once erases every sin forever.” The hadith promise of forgiveness is real, but it assumes the conditions of tawbah are met. Recitation paired with intention to repeat the sin does not meet the bar.
- “You must say it exactly 100 times.” 70 and 100 are the Prophet’s reported numbers, not obligatory counts. The Sunnah is to make it constant; the count is a guideline.
- “Only major sins need istighfar.” The Prophet (ﷺ), who was already forgiven, still said it 70–100 times daily. Istighfar is also an act of shukr (gratitude), not only damage control.
- “You can do istighfar on behalf of someone alive without their knowledge.” Yes — making dua for a Muslim’s forgiveness in their absence is itself recommended (Sahih Muslim 2733). However, their personal tawbah is something only they can perform.
What does “astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” mean in English?
“Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ) means “I seek the forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance.” It is a two-part phrase: astaghfirullah asks Allah to cover and forgive the sin, and wa atubu ilayh commits the believer to actively return to Him.
How many times should you say astaghfirullah a day?
There is no fixed obligation. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself said it more than 70 times a day in one narration (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307) and 100 times a day in another (Sahih Muslim 2702). Many Muslims aim for 100 as a daily target, but the more important Sunnah is constancy: small repetitions through the day rather than one large batch.
When should you say astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh?
There is no restricted time. Authentic Sunnah recommends three times after every obligatory salah (Riyad as-Salihin 1876), in the last third of the night before Fajr (Quran 51:18), immediately after committing a sin (Quran 3:135), and as continuous dhikr throughout the day. Aishah (RA) reported the Prophet (ﷺ) said this exact phrase frequently in the days before his death (Riyad as-Salihin 1877).
What is the difference between “astaghfirullah” and “astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh”?
“Astaghfirullah” alone is the short form, meaning “I seek the forgiveness of Allah.” Adding “wa atubu ilayh” extends the request into a commitment: “and I turn to Him in repentance.” The Prophet (ﷺ) used the longer form in his own daily practice (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307), so it carries the same standing as the short form plus an active resolve to return to Allah.
Is astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh the same as Sayyidul Istighfar?
No. Sayyidul Istighfar is a longer fixed dua (~50 words) recited once in the morning and once in the evening, with the promise that whoever says it morning and dies before evening, or evening and dies before morning, enters Jannah (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306). “Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” is a 4-word dhikr the Prophet (ﷺ) repeated 70 to 100 times a day (Sahih al-Bukhari 6307; Sahih Muslim 2702). Both are authentic; they complement each other in a complete daily routine.
Is istighfar the same as tawbah?
No. Istighfar is the verbal request for forgiveness; tawbah is the inward act of turning back. A complete tawbah requires three conditions: stopping the sin immediately, genuine regret, and a firm resolve not to repeat it. If the sin involved another person, a fourth condition applies: restore their right or seek their pardon.
What are the benefits of saying astaghfirullah 100 times?
The Quran ties istighfar to forgiveness of sins (Quran 4:48), rain, wealth, and offspring (Quran 71:10–12), enjoyment in this life (Quran 11:3), and a way out of distress (Quran 3:135). The Sunnah adds that consistent istighfar follows the Prophet’s own practice (ﷺ), who recited it 70–100 times daily even though he was already forgiven.
Make “astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh” a small habit attached to a routine you already have: every time you sit in your car, every time you finish wudu, every time your phone screen lights up. Within a week the count becomes effortless, and the dua becomes part of your reflex instead of a chore.
