Question Summary:
What are the benefits of istighfar? How does one make istighfar?

Question Detail:

What are the benefits of istighfar? How does one make istighfar?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Istighfar (إستغفر) – to ask (someone’s) pardon, forgiveness, to apologise. (أستغفر الله) I ask Allah’s forgiveness. (Al-Mawrid pg.95 [Arabic-English Dictionary – Dr. Rohi Baalbaki])
 
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Salam said that whoever excessive istighfar,he pleases Allah. The connection which was broken through sinning is restored with excessive weeping and crying, he restores the connection of servanthood.
 
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Salam says:
 
If the tears of regret flow from the eyes of a believer onto his face due to the fear of Allah, even though they maybe the size of the head of a fly, then Allah, will make the fire of Jahanam haraam on that face[1] 
 
After hearing this hadith some Sahabah Radiallahu Anhum used to wipe their tears over their faces in hopes of gaining the reward as mentioned by the hadith.
 
Four things are necessary for the validity of Taubah [2]
 
DISCARDING OF THE SIN
 
أَنْ يُقلِعَ عَنِ المَعصِيَةِ. Firstly, to discard and leave out that sin from which Taubah (repentance) is being made.  To seek repentance while continuing the sin is not acceptable. As long as one is sinning the wrath and anger of Allah descends. An example would be like a person who has fallen into a puddle of urine or stool. To attain purity he must first come out of that puddle and wash himself with water. If he does not come out of the puddle, all the water in the world will not make him clean.
 
REMORSE
 
أَنْ يَنْدَمَ عَلَى فِعْلِهَا Remorse and regret must be shown for the sin that was committed. The reality of remorse is that regret should come from the heart.
The one who committed the sin must contemplate what he had done?
Whose law has he broken?
The Great Being that he has disobeyed?
 
Disobedience and sin remove the mercy of Allah. Every sin whether minor or major distances one from Allah, on the other hand even a minor good deed brings you closer to Allah. Thus leave every act of sin by regarding it as poison and stay in the company of the pious. One who takes the name of Allah, Allah will make his heart free of grief. Such a person remains content in this world all the time. When Allah desires to keep a person happy and endows him with His special grace, then the problems of this world will seem like nothing to him.
 
RESOLUTION NOT TO REPEAT THE SIN IN THE FUTURE
 
.أَنْ يَعْزِمَ أَنْ لا يعُودَ إِلَيْهَا أَبَدً Makes a firm intention that he will not return to that sin.
You should make a firm intention that you will not return to that sin again. If Shytaan whispers in your ears that you will commit that sin again, then a firm intention to adopt piety is sufficient for the acceptance of repentance. This is acceptable by Allah. If you are faced with weakness then you should say “O Allah I have placed my trust in you and I will not return to this sin again.” If you commit this sin again then repeat the process.
 
FULFILLMENT OF RIGHTS
If the sin committed is not between the person and Allah, but is between himself and another person, then the rights of that person must first be fulfilled before making Taubah.
Sins are of two types. Hukukullah - regarding the rights of Allah and hukukul ibaad - regarding the rights of fellow human beings. Hukukullah includes those salats that you did not perform or those fast that you have missed or any unpaid zakat that still remain in your obligation etc.
A part of Istighfar and Taubah is, to make qadah at your earliest convenience of the missed salat or fast etc. Try to incorporate the Quran.and the Sunnah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa Salam into your life and avoid breaking the laws of Allah Ta’ala in the future.
Try to fulfill the rights of other people that are binding upon you. For example you may have an outstanding loan with someone. Try to repay as soon as possible. If you hurt the feelings of another person, then seek his forgiveness.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mawlana Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Westmoreland, Jamaica, West Indies
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
daruliftaa.net