“Every sin committed is a form of deformation in human nature. The only way for a person who has experienced such deformation to return to their original form—that is, to their primordial nature—is through seeking forgiveness. In other words, sins bring about certain negative changes in a person’s essence. So much so that a heart stained by sin may, over time, become unable to even fulfill its own function. Moreover, every sin distances a person from God and brings them closer to disbelief. Thus, it is only through seeking forgiveness that one can be saved from sins that lead to unbelief and cleanse the stains forming on the heart.”¹⁾

“A heart that does not react to errors and acts of disobedience, that feels no discomfort from sin, and whose sleep is undisturbed by its own wrongdoings, is like a dead body. For all these reasons, a believing heart must respond to sin. And the foremost response it should show is istiğfar.”(Ibid. p. 240.))

“The following supplication, known as Sayyid al-Istighfar (the master of all invocations for forgiveness), transmitted from the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, is a very significant prayer for seeking forgiveness and can be recited in the morning and evening:

‘O Allah! You are my Lord. There is no deity worthy of worship except You. You created me, and I am Your servant. I try my best to uphold the covenant and promise I made to You. I seek refuge in You from the evil I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I confess my sins. So forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You.’²⁾” ³⁾

The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, stated regarding this supplication:

‘Whoever recites it during the day with firm faith in its merits and dies before evening, will be among the people of Paradise. And whoever recites it at night with full conviction and dies before morning, will be among the people of Paradise.’”³⁴

“Sometimes, while fulfilling duties in the name of serving religion, things that displease God may inadvertently be committed. These can often lead to stagnation in one’s work. For this reason, the Qur’an links ‘istighfar’ with ‘fath’ (Divine opening/victory), commanding the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘When the help of Allah and victory come, then seek forgiveness repeatedly.’ Our mother Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that after this verse was revealed, the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, would sometimes seek forgiveness up to a hundred times in a single gathering.”(M. Fethullah Gülen, Prizma-1, İstanbul: Nil Yayınları, 2011, p. 32.))

“Istighfar need not be limited to verbal formulas of repentance and forgiveness; it can also take the form of any sincere turning toward the Lord. A person may sometimes be caught in waves of disobedience during daily life. At times, they may falter on the straight path or fail to maintain pure intentions, acting instead according to desires and pleasures. In such an atmosphere, one’s feelings and inner climate may become tainted. For someone whose heart has thus been clouded, who has swayed from their path, it becomes imperative to turn to God with abundant istighfar. This prevents the inclination toward evil from gaining momentum.

As stated in the Treatise on Divine Destiny, Bediüzzaman explains: ‘Just as prayer and trust in God strengthen the inclination toward good, so too do repentance and istighfar curb the tendency toward evil and break its transgressions.’ Human beings have a disposition capable of both good and evil. One should listen to the voice of the heart and direct it toward goodness, navigating ever deeper into the heart’s horizon through constant remembrance and devotional recitation.”⁴⁾

“The limits of the religiously permissible enjoyment are broad and adequate for your desire, and so you do not need to indulge in what is forbidden. The duties imposed by God are light and few. To be His servant and soldier is an honor beyond description.

Your duty is to act and embark on all things in God’s name, like a soldier, to receive and give on God’s behalf, and to obey His permission and law. If you sin, seek His forgiveness by saying: ‘O Lord, forgive our sins and accept us as your servants. Enable us to remain faithful to Your trust until the time of restitution arrives. Amin.’ And petition Him.”⁵⁾

“Sin penetrates to the heart, darkens and hardens it until it extinguishes the light of belief. Each sin has a path that leads to unbelief. Unless that sin is swiftly obliterated by seeking God’s forgiveness, it grows from a worm into a snake that gnaws at the heart.”⁶⁾

“Satan blocks the path of seeking forgiveness (istighfar) and seeking protection (isti’adha) by inciting a flawed person to deny their faults, stirring their ego so that, like a defense attorney, they justify and defend their sins.”⁷⁾

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