The Dua of Abu Bakr [RA]

Bismillah.

Narrated Abu Bakr As-Siddiq [RA]

I asked Allah’s Apostle [SAWS] to teach me an invocation so that I may invoke Allah with it in my prayer. He told me to say,

[Sahih Bukhari]

Transliteration (hover your mouse for translation)

Allahumma innee dhalamtu nafsi dhulman katheera
Wala yaghfiruz zhunooba illa anta faghfirlee
Maghfiratam min ‘indika war hamni innaka
Antal Ghafooror Raheem

What’s so special about this dua?

For starters, the one who requested the dua is the best of all the companions of the Prophet [SAWS] – Abu Bakr [RA]. The one who entertained the request is the seal of the Prophets and the leader of mankind [SAWS]. So this dua was given to the best, by the best…and what is the content of the dua?

“Oh Allah! I have wronged myself greatly!”

Subhan Allah! If Muhammad [SAWS] and Abu Bakr [RA] have wronged themselves greatly, where do we stand? If the two of the finest of Allah’s creation: the first being the leader of mankind [SAWS], the other whose emaan is heavier than the emaan of the entire ummah combined [RA]. If they have wronged themselves and they were so adamant in seeking the forgiveness of Allah and begging for the mercy of Allah then really, where do we stand?

How much more have we wronged ourselves in comparison to RasoolAllah [SAWS] and Abu Bakr [RA], yet we don’t have the same drive to ask Allah’s forgiveness and Allah’s mercy!

We should make it a habit of making this dua in our prayers after tashahhud, and at other times too. May Allah forgive us our sins and bestow upon us His Mercy, ameen.