(Recite once)

Hazrat Shaddad bin Aus (radhiallaho anho) reports that Rasulullah (sallellaho alaihe wasallam) said: “Sayyidul Istighfaar (i.e. The Greatest Istighfaar) is to beseech Allah Ta'ala in the following manner:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اَنْتَ رَبِّىْ لآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِىْ وَاَنَاْ عَبْدُكَ وَاَنَاْ عَلٰى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ اَعُوْذُبِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ اَبُوْءُلَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَاَبُوْءُ بِذَمنْبِىْ فَا اغْفِرْلِى فَاِنَّه لَا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنُوْبَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ

O Allah! You alone are my Rabb ( Lord). There is none worthy of worship besides You. You indeed have created me and I am only Your slave. I am steadfast upon Your covenant and promise to the extent I can. I seek refuge in You from the sins I have committed. I acknowledge Your favors upon me and I confess to my sins. Forgive me for verily none forgives sins except You.”

(Bukhari Shareef, vol. 2 pg.932-933)

NOTE: In a narration of Bukhari Shareef and Nasai Shareef, it is reported from Hazrat Shaddad bin Aur (radhiallaho anho) that Rasulullah (sallellaho alaihe wasallam) said: “The one who recites this dua in the morning and passes away before the evening, he will pass away as a Shaheed (martyr). Likewise, the one who recites this in the evening and passes away before the morning, he too will pass away as a Shaheed.

Commentary:Apparently, the secret in there being such a great virtue for this Istighfaar is that every word is filled with the spirit of servitude and slavery.