“Allahumma innaka ‘Afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni” (اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي) is the dua the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught his wife Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) to recite on the Night of Decree — Laylatul Qadr. It means: “O Allah, You are Most Forgiving — You love to forgive — so forgive me.”
Of every supplication a believer could ask for on the most blessed night of the year, this is the one the Prophet ﷺ chose. That choice alone tells us how heavy this dua is. On this page: the full Arabic with transliteration, the original hadith from Aisha (RA), a word-by-word breakdown of why each part matters, the difference between ‘afw and maghfira, and exactly when to recite it.
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Allahumma innaka Afuwwun in Arabic, Transliteration, and Meaning
Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي
Transliteration: Allahumma innaka ‘Afuwwun, tuhibbul ‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni.
Translation: “O Allah, indeed You are Most Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.”
The dua has a deliberate three-part structure. It opens by addressing Allah by one of His names (‘Afuwwun). It then states a quality of that name (You love to pardon). Only at the end does it ask for what we want (so pardon me). This pattern — name, attribute, request — is one of the most effective forms of supplication in Islam, because we approach Allah through His own names rather than just our need.
The Hadith of Aisha and the Night of Decree
This dua comes from one of the most beloved hadith in Islamic tradition. Aisha (RA) asked the Prophet ﷺ a direct question: “O Messenger of Allah, if I knew which night was Laylatul Qadr, what should I say in it?”
The Prophet ﷺ replied:
“Say: Allahumma innaka ‘Afuwwun, tuhibbul ‘afwa, fa’fu ‘anni — O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3513, graded sahih by al-Albani; also in Sunan Ibn Majah 3850 and Musnad Ahmad 25384)
Stop and weigh this exchange. Aisha (RA) was the wife of the Prophet ﷺ and one of the most learned women in Islamic history. She had unrestricted access to the most knowledgeable person who has ever walked the earth. And of every dua she could have been taught for the most powerful night of the year — a night the Quran says is “better than a thousand months” (Quran 97:3) — this is what the Prophet ﷺ chose for her.
Related:
He did not teach her a dua for wealth, for paradise specifically, for protection from hellfire, for a long life, or for victory. He taught her one thing: ask Allah to pardon you. Because if Allah pardons you, every other thing falls into place.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
Allahumma — “O Allah”
The Arabic Allahumma is the vocative form of Allah — a direct call. Classical scholars considered it equivalent to “Ya Allah” (O Allah). Many duas in the Sunnah open with this word because it immediately establishes that this is a personal address to the Creator, not just a recitation.
‘Afuwwun — “Most Pardoning”
Al-‘Afuww is one of the names of Allah. It comes from the Arabic root ‘afā, which means to erase, wipe out, or efface. When something is ‘afw, no trace of it remains — it is as if it never happened. This is fundamentally different from forgiveness in the sense of merely “letting go.” ‘Afw is total erasure.
Allah Himself is described in the Quran as ‘Afuwwun Ghafur — “Forgiving and Most Forgiving” (Quran 4:43, 4:99, 22:60, 58:2). The name appears five times in the Quran. The form ‘Afuwwun is intensive — it does not just describe an action; it describes a permanent attribute of Allah’s nature.
Tuhibbul ‘Afwa — “You Love to Pardon”
This phrase is the spiritual heart of the dua. We are not just informing Allah that He is forgiving — we are reminding ourselves (and approaching Him with the fact) that pardoning is something He loves. The Arabic tuhibbu means You love, in the active, ongoing sense. Pardoning is not a chore Allah carries out reluctantly; it is something He delights in.
The Prophet ﷺ said in Sahih Muslim 2759 that Allah is more pleased by the repentance of His servant than a man who, after losing his camel and all his provisions in a desert, suddenly finds it standing in front of him. That is the level of joy Allah has when His servant turns back. Tuhibbul ‘afwa is the dua’s compact way of invoking that.
Fa’fu ‘Anni — “So Pardon Me”
The fa at the start is a connective particle meaning so or therefore. The logic chain is complete: You are Pardoning, You love to pardon, therefore pardon me. The believer is reasoning with Allah using Allah’s own attributes — a form of supplication the Quran itself uses repeatedly (the famous “Rabbana atina…” verses follow the same pattern).
‘Anni means “from me” — making the request personal, not generic. You are not asking Allah to pardon “everyone” or “the believers” — you are asking Him to pardon you. The dua is short by design so it can be repeated dozens of times in a single sitting.
The Difference Between ‘Afw and Maghfira
Both ‘afw and maghfira are translated into English as “forgiveness,” but Arabic distinguishes them clearly:
- Maghfira (مغفرة) — comes from the root meaning to cover or conceal. Allah covers the sin from being seen, but the record may still exist.
- ‘Afw (عفو) — comes from the root meaning to erase. The sin is removed completely, as if it never happened. No trace, no record.
This is why scholars consider ‘afw to be a higher, more complete form of forgiveness. When the Prophet ﷺ taught Aisha to ask for ‘afw on Laylatul Qadr, he was teaching her to ask for the deepest, most thorough cleansing possible — not just covering of sins, but their complete erasure.
When to Recite Allahumma innaka Afuwwun
The primary context for this dua is Laylatul Qadr — the Night of Decree, falling within the last ten odd nights of Ramadan. Most scholars hold the strongest opinion is the 27th night, but the Prophet ﷺ recommended seeking it across all the odd nights (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, 29th).
However, the dua is not limited to Laylatul Qadr. It is appropriate to recite at any time:
- In the last third of the night — when Allah descends to the lowest heaven and asks who is calling on Him (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145).
- In sujud (prostration) — the closest position a servant is to Allah (Sahih Muslim 482).
- After the five daily prayers — especially after Fajr and after Maghrib.
- On Friday between Asr and Maghrib — the hour of accepted dua.
- When you are conscious of a specific sin — repeat it slowly, with feeling.
- Throughout Ramadan in general — and especially the last ten nights, in any odd night you witness.
Many believers recite this dua repeatedly — 100 times, 1,000 times, throughout the night — during the last ten nights of Ramadan. There is no fixed number in the Sunnah. The principle is repetition with attentiveness, not a counted ritual.
Why This Dua Was Chosen for Laylatul Qadr
Laylatul Qadr is described in the Quran as “better than a thousand months” (Quran 97:3). A single night of worship on Laylatul Qadr is, in reward, equivalent to over 83 years of continuous worship. Given that magnitude, why teach a dua focused only on forgiveness?
Classical scholars give this answer: a person whose past has been erased starts the rest of their life as if newly born. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The one who repents from sin is like the one who has no sin” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4250, graded hasan). On Laylatul Qadr, asking for total erasure of sins is asking for the highest possible spiritual reset. Every other request — paradise, blessing, protection — becomes more reachable for someone whose record has been wiped.
It is also a profound act of humility. To stand on the most powerful night of the year and ask only to be pardoned — not for greatness, not for status, not for ease — is to acknowledge that one’s own sins are the most serious thing standing between them and Allah. The companions understood this. We should too.
Related Duas of Forgiveness
- Sayyid al-Istighfar (the Master of seeking forgiveness) — the Prophet ﷺ said whoever recites it during the day with conviction and dies that day will enter paradise (Sahih al-Bukhari 6306).
- Astaghfirullah wa atubu ilayh — “I seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance.” Recommended 100 times daily.
- Rabbi ighfir li warhamni wa tub ‘alayya — “My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, and accept my repentance” (Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3434).
Pair Allahumma innaka Afuwwun with these in your nightly worship and your istighfar (seeking forgiveness) becomes layered, varied, and complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of Allahumma innaka Afuwwun?
It means ‘O Allah, You are Most Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me.’ The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to Aisha (RA) when she asked what to say on Laylatul Qadr — the Night of Decree.
What is the source of this dua?
It is recorded in Sunan at-Tirmidhi 3513 (graded sahih by al-Albani), Sunan Ibn Majah 3850, and Musnad Ahmad 25384. Aisha (RA) asked the Prophet ﷺ what to say if she knew the night was Laylatul Qadr, and he taught her this exact dua.
When should I recite Allahumma innaka Afuwwun?
Most importantly during the last ten odd nights of Ramadan, especially the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, and 29th nights. It is also excellent in the last third of any night, in sujud, after the five daily prayers, and on Friday between Asr and Maghrib.
What is the difference between ‘afw and maghfira?
Maghfira means Allah covers the sin so it is concealed. ‘Afw means Allah erases the sin completely, as if it never happened. ‘Afw is the deeper, more complete form of forgiveness — which is why this dua specifically asks for it.
How many times should I recite this dua?
There is no fixed number in the Sunnah. The principle is repetition with attentiveness. Many believers recite it 100 or more times throughout the last ten nights of Ramadan. Recite it slowly, mean it, and repeat as much as you can.
Memorize this dua. Whisper it in sujud. Repeat it through the last nights of Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ chose it for the most blessed night of the year because it is the dua a sincere believer can lean on for everything else they will ever need.
