Allâhümme Innî Zalemtü Nefsî Prayer: A Solution Taught by Our Prophet
Among the supplications (duas) for forgiveness of sins and purification of the heart is the Allâhümme innî zalemtü nefsî prayer, a significant plea taught by our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him). This dua holds great importance in terms of recognizing one’s own mistakes and seeking forgiveness from Allah.
The Prayer’s Arabic Original
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْس۪ي ظُلْمًا كَث۪يرًا وَ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَ ارْحَمْن۪ي اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّح۪يمُ
The Prayer’s Turkish Recitation
“Allâhümme innî zalemtü nefsî zulmen kesîran wa lâ yağfirū’z-zünûbe illā ente, fağfirlī mağfiraten min ‘ındike, werhamnî inneke ente’l-ğafûru’r-rahîm.”
The Meaning of the Prayer
“O Allah! I have greatly wronged myself, and there is no one who forgives sins except You. So forgive me a forgiveness from Your presence and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.” This dua is a sincere expression of acknowledging one’s mistakes and seeking forgiveness from Allah.
(Bukhari, Azan 149, Adab 17, Tawhid 9; Muslim, Zikr and Dua 48)