When our father, Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), was sent down to the world after Shaitaan caused him and Sayyidah Hawwaa (‘alaihas salaam) to eat from the forbidden tree, he was extremely remorseful and sorrowful over the mistake that he had made. Hence, he turned to Allah Ta‘ala in sincere repentance and begged His forgiveness.
Allah Ta‘ala inspired Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam) to make du‘aa in the following words, and on reciting this special form of istighfaar, Allah Ta‘ala accepted his repentance. These words were:
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ
O our Rabb! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, then we will most definitely be from the losers! (Surah Aa’raaf v23)
It should be borne in mind that all the Ambiyaa of Allah Ta‘ala are Divinely protected and safeguarded from committing sins. Hence, it is our belief, as Muslims, that all the Ambiyaa (‘alaihimus salaam) are completely sinless. However, it was possible for a Nabi to make an error in judgement. Though these errors in judgment are not regarded as sins, however since the Ambiyaa are the closest to Allah Ta‘ala from the entire creation, they would beg forgiveness for these mistakes as well.
Nevertheless, when repenting to Allah Ta‘ala for our sins, there are various forms of istighfaar, from the Quraan and hadeeth, that we can recite. Among them is the abovementioned du‘aa which Allah Ta‘ala revealed to Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam).
‘Umar bin ‘Abdil ‘Azeez (rahimahullah) once wrote a letter to the people of a certain area (where an earthquake had perhaps taken place) saying, “Indeed this earthquake is a means which Allah Ta‘ala uses to punish the servants. And I have written to the (other) towns (instructing them) to come out (of their homes) on so-and-so day in so-and-so month. So, whoever possesses anything (to offer in charity), he should give (it) in charity… And say the same words which your father, (Nabi) Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), said,
رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخٰسِرِيْنَ
‘O our Rabb! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, then we will most definitely be from the losers!’ (Surah A’raaf v23)
And you should (also) say that which (Nabi) Nooh (‘alaihis salaam) said,
وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِي وَتَرْحَمْنِي أَكُن مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
‘(O Allah!) If You do not forgive me and have mercy on me, I will most certainly be from among the losers.’ (Surah Hood v47)
And (further) say as Nabi Yunus (‘alaihis salaam) said,
لَّا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
‘(O Allah!) There is no deity besides You. You are Pure. Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers.’” (Surah Ambiyaa v87)
(Al-‘Uqoobaat – Ibnu Abid Dunya #23)
When we examine this du‘aa of Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam), the aspect that stands out is that when one makes du‘aa in these words, one is acknowledging one’s mistake and weakness and is confessing to one’s sin. This is the quality that Allah Ta‘ala likes to see in His servant – that he humbles himself by acknowledging his weakness and sin and sincerely weeping and begging for forgiveness.
In complete contrast to this was the proud, boastful and arrogant response of Shaitaan when he disobeyed Allah Ta‘ala’s command to prostrate before Nabi Aadam (‘alaihis salaam). At that moment, instead of humbling himself and acknowledging his mistake and sin, he was overcome by arrogance and began to justify his sin – and this is the reason why he earned eternal rejection from the Divine grace of Allah Ta‘ala.
If a person does not regard wrong to be wrong, or if the seriousness and severity of the sin leaves one’s heart, then one will not feel the need to repent and engage in sincere istighfaar. Hence, the first step to repentance is for one to acknowledge his sins, mistakes and weaknesses.
Furthermore, this du‘aa highlights the important point that if a person does not secure the forgiveness and mercy of Allah Ta‘ala, he is a complete failure and totally unsuccessful, no matter how much of progress he may have made in the material sense.
May Allah Ta‘ala grant us the ability to acknowledge our sins and mistakes and to secure His forgiveness and mercy, aameen.