What is istighfar?
Istighfar is asking Allah for forgiveness. Tawbah is returning to Allah with repentance. A useful routine can support that return, but a habit-tracking number should never be presented as a Sunnah number unless the source establishes it.
Qur’an 71:10–12
“Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, ˹for˺ He is truly Most Forgiving. He will shower you with abundant rain, supply you with wealth and children, and give you gardens as well as rivers.”
This English meaning is attributed to Dr Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran.
A daily hundred
The Prophet ﷺ said that he sought Allah’s forgiveness and repented to Him one hundred times in a day. This supports a daily target; it should not be mislabeled as “100 immediately after every Fard prayer.”
Sayyid al-Istighfār
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي، فَاغْفِرْ لِي، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
The narration connects this comprehensive supplication to the day and night. It does not require us to invent an additional repetition count.
Immediately after Fard Salah
After finishing the prayer, Thawban reported that the Prophet ﷺ sought forgiveness three times and then said Allāhumma Antas-Salāmu wa minkas-salām, tabārakta dhal-jalāli wal-ikrām.
Repentance is more than a counter
Turn away from the sin, regret it, ask Allah for forgiveness and resolve not to return to it. If another person’s property or enforceable right is involved, a personal charity donation is not automatically a substitute for restoring that right. Seek qualified guidance where another person’s rights are affected.
Personal duʿā in your own words
O Allah, make me consistent in my Salah and sincere in worshipping You.
O Allah, grant me halal provision with barakah and protect me from what is harmful.
O Allah, guide me in my decisions and keep my heart firm upon Your obedience.
O Allah, place peace, faith and mercy in my home and family.
O Allah, forgive my shortcomings and grant me a good ending.
O Allah, protect me from harmful desires, overthinking and choices that take me away from You.