Concept of Istighfar in Quran and Hadith

IQNA – The word “Istighfar” (asking for forgiveness) is derived from the root “Ghafara” which means “to cover” and “to have covered”; hence, Istighfar in Arabic means asking for and requesting to cover.

Derivatives of the root “Ghafara” appear in the Quran in various forms 234 times. The Holy Book has encouraged asking for forgiveness seven times. God Almighty has also been mentioned 91 times with the adjective “Ghafur”, five times with the adjective “Ghaffar” and once with the adjective “Ghafir”. The breadth of the description of forgiveness in dealing with sinners indicates the breadth of God’s mercy and compassion.

Although Maghfira (another derivative of Ghafara) means covering, God’s covering of sins is not only different from human forgiveness and covering, but is also not comparable to it. By forgiving another, a person overlooks his mistake, but the truth of the sin remains and sits on his heart and limbs like impurity and filth: “Their own deeds have cast a veil over their hearts.” (Verse 14 of Surah Al-Mutaffifin).

God Almighty’s covering of sins means eliminating the effects and consequences of sins.

Divine covering and forgiveness is the highest type of forgiveness and is beyond our imagination and comes only from the Creator of the world. In some circumstances, this covering reaches a stage where sins become good deeds, as God Almighty says, referring to people who have committed major sins and deserve double punishment in Hell: “…except he who repents and believes and does good works those, Allah will change their evil deeds into good deeds; Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.” (Verse 70 of Surah Al-Furqan).