Compiled by Reading Islam Team.

Allah says in the Quran:

{O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)!  Despair not of the Mercy of God: verily, God forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} (39:53)

He also said in a sacred hadith:

“O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Allah is All-Forgiving All Merciful, He knows our weakness and He knows our shortcomings. He knows what we do. He hears our sincere repentance and He forgives before being begged for forgiveness. Here, we cite some acts that wipe sins.

Wudu (ablution) and Prayer Wipe Sins

Allah says that prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing. When we pray, we become God-conscious and feel guilt about our sins we did. So when you’ve sinned turn quickly to Allah and remember to make wudu’ (ablution) and pray. Prophet Muhammad said:

“What do you think if there was a river by the door of any one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, would there be any trace of dirt left on him?”

They (his companions) said:

“No trace of dirt would be left on him.”

The Prophet said:

“This is like the five daily prayers, through which Allah erases sin.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

One companion asked Prophet Muhammad:

“O Messenger of Allah! How is Wudu’ done?’

He said:

‘As for Wudu’, when you perform Wudu’, and you wash your hands to clean them, your sins come out from between your fingers and fingertips. When you rinse your mouth and nostrils, and wash your face and hands up to the elbows, and wipe your head, and wash your feet up to the ankles, you are cleansed of all your sins. When you prostrate your face to Allah, may He be exalted, you emerge from your sins like the day your mother bore you.'” (Darussalam)

Good Deeds Wipe Bad Deeds

Doing a good deed wipes away the sin committed. Prophet Muhammad said:

“Fear God wherever you are. Follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will blot it out. And deal with people in a good manner.” (At-Tirmidhi)

You can give some money even it’s little, spread peace, be kind to people, help a needy, smile, say good words… Never underestimate any good deed, they may save you in the Day of Judgment.

Make Du’a (Supplications)

There are plenty of du’as for seeking forgiveness. Here are some:

The best du’a for seeking forgiveness, or as the Prophet calls it the master of istighfar:

“Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ‘ala ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, A’udhu bika min Sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u Laka bini’matika ‘alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta.”

(O Allah! You are my Lord! None has the right to be worshiped but You. You created me and I am Your slave, and I am faithful to my covenant and my promise as much as I can. I seek refuge with You from all the evil I have done. I acknowledge before You all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, and I confess to You all my sins. So I entreat You to forgive my sins, for nobody can forgive sins except You.)

Prophet Muhammad used to say:

“O Allah! Forgive me all my sins, great and small, the first and the last, those that are apparent and those that are hidden.”

(Allahumma-ghfir li dhanbi kullahu, diqqahu wa jillahu, wa awwalahu wa akhirahu, wa ‘ala niyatahu wa sirrahu.) (Muslim)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

 “I seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him one hundred times each day.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Say: “Astaghfirullaha wa atubu ilayh.” (I seek the Forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him.”

{There is no God but You. Glory be to You, Truly I have been one of the wrongdoers} (Quran 21: 87)

La illaha illa Anta Subhanak, inni kuntu min adh–dhalimeen. 

The Prophet used to say:

‘Allahumma ighsil khatayaya bi-ma’ith-thalj wal-barad was naqqi qalbi min al-khataya kama naqayta ath-thawb al-abyad min ad-danas. 

(O Allah, wash away my sins with the water of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart of snow and hail, and cleanse my heart of sin as a white garment is cleansed of filth.’)