Once, Aisha radhiyallahu ‘anha asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "O Messenger of Allah, if I find the night of Lailatul Qadr, what should I say?"
The Messenger of Allah replied:
اللهمم إنك عفوٌ تحبا العفوف اعفو عني
Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa‘fu ‘anni.
(O Allah, truly You are Forgiving, love forgiveness, so forgive me.) (HR. Ibnu Majah)
Interestingly, Rasulullah ﷺ taught to apologize ('afwun), not ask for forgiveness (maghfirah).
🔹 Maghfirah means Allah covers sins, so that we are not embarrassed in this world or the afterlife.
🔹 'Afwun is higher in rank, because Allah erases sins without a trace, as if we had never sinned, and replaces them with good rewards.
In the last ten nights of Ramadan, let's multiply these prayers with hope and sincerity. May Allah erase all our sins and determine the best destiny for our lives.
