Istighfar, meaning seeking forgiveness, and is mentioned in the
Qur’an in two ways: either by itself or coupled with tawbah
(repentance). The single mention of istighfar (without the mention
of tawbah) finds an example in the saying of Nuh alayhi salam in the
Noble Qur’an:
“Seek forgiveness of your Lord, you all, (for) He is Oft-Forgiving:
He sends the heavens over you raining.” Surah Yunus - Ayah 11.
And in the saying of Saleh to his people:
“If only you (were to) ask Allah for forgiveness, you may hope to
receive mercy.” Surah An-Naml - Ayah 46.
Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, also says:
“And seek forgiveness of Allah, for Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”
Surah Al-Baqarah - Ayah 199.
“But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst you [O
Prophet] were amongst them; nor was he going to send it whilst they
were asking for forgiveness.” Surah Al-Anfal - Ayah 33.
The mention of istighfar coupled with tawbah appears in the
following verses:
“Ask forgiveness of your Lord, then turn to Him; He will provide you
with a goodly provision to an appointed term and bestow His grace on
every one endowed with grace, and if you turn back, then surely I
fear for you the chastisement of a great day.” Surah Hud - Ayah 3.
“And, O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord (istighfar), then
turn to Him (tawbah); He will send on you clouds pouring down
abundance of rain and add strength to your strength, and do not turn
back guilty.” Surah Hud - Ayah 52.
Saleh said to his people: “And to Thamood (We sent) their brother
Salih. He said: O my people! serve Allah, you have no god other than
He; He brought you into being from the earth, and made you dwell in
it, therefore ask forgiveness of Him, then turn to Him; surely my
Lord is Near, Answering.” Surah Hud - Ayah 61.
Istaghfar: is not just to cover up, but total removal of sins.
Therefore, istighfar (seeking forgiveness) singly is similar to
tawbah (repentance); rather, it is indeed repentance. Seeking
forgiveness, moreover, fully removes the sin, undoes its effects and
prevents its evil, and not merely hides the sins as some people have
conjectured. For Allah may cover and hide the sins of those who seek
forgiveness and even of those who do not; but istighfar is more than
just a cover.
The essence of istighfar (seeking forgiveness) is that it earns one
the prevention from the evil of the sin. Its literal meaning is
related to that of al-mighfar, “what saves and covers the head from
discomfort or harm (from sun, sand, rain, etc.)” and covering is
necessary to this meaning, but not sufficient: for other coverings
of the head like ‘emamah or qubba’ are not called mighfar. We
conclude that something cannot be called a mighfar unless it
provides more than covering: it must also save and protect . It is
in this meaning that istighfaar saves one from the punishment:
“And Allah was not going to send his punishment whilst they were
asking for forgiveness.” Surah Al-Anfal - Ayah 33.
Of course, if one insists on sinning and demands from Allah
forgiveness (without fulfilling its conditions), then this is not a
true istighfar, and it does not prevent the punishment. Istighfar
(seeking forgiveness) includes tawbah (repenting), and tawbah
includes istighfar: each one is implied by the other in its entirety.
Wasalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu