Istighfār
استغفارDefinition
Seeking forgiveness — which Ibn al-Qayyim includes as a form of dhikr with specific healing properties distinct from other forms of remembrance. The Prophet recommended istighfar especially at the end of gatherings, before sleep, and after prayer, establishing it as a constant spiritual hygiene practice. Ibn al-Qayyim catalogues its specific effects: it removes distress, opens blocked paths of sustenance, brings relief from anxiety, and maintains the heart's softness against the hardening that sin produces. Frequent istighfar is not a sign of excessive sinfulness but of spiritual sophistication — an understanding that the heart needs constant cleansing to remain in its best condition for worship and nearness to Allah.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
3 books in the library
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