All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, seek His forgiveness, and turn to Him in repentance. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whoever He allows to go astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

Servants of Allah, I advise myself and you to have taqwa of Allah—consciousness, reverence, and obedience to Him—because taqwa is the path to success in this life and the next.

Brothers and sisters in Islam, one of the greatest gifts Allah has given us is the door of repentance. We are human beings; we forget, we fall short, we make mistakes, and we sin. But our Lord is not a Lord who turns away the sincere servant. He is Al-Ghafoor, the Oft-Forgiving, and Ar-Raheem, the Most Merciful.

Allah says in the Qur’an: “Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” This verse reminds every believer that despair is not from faith. No matter how heavy our sins may feel, Allah’s mercy is greater.

Seeking forgiveness—istighfar—is not only for the person who has committed a major sin. It is the daily habit of the believer. The Prophet ﷺ, the best of creation and the most obedient to Allah, said that he sought Allah’s forgiveness and repented to Him more than seventy times a day. If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made istighfar so often, then how much more do we need it?

Istighfar cleans the heart. It softens what has become hard, wakes what has become heedless, and brings the servant back to the One who created him. Sins may cover the heart like dust covers a mirror, but sincere repentance polishes it until it reflects light again.

Sincere repentance is not merely words on the tongue. It begins with recognizing the sin, feeling remorse before Allah, stopping the sin, and making a firm intention not to return to it. If the sin involved the rights of another person, then repentance also requires restoring those rights or seeking their pardon.

Allah praises those who, when they wrong themselves, remember Him, ask forgiveness for their sins, and do not knowingly persist in what they have done. This is the difference between a servant who slips and a servant who insists. The believer may fall, but the believer returns.

So let each of us ask: What sin have I become too comfortable with? What prayer have I delayed? What tongue have I allowed to speak carelessly? What relationship have I harmed? What private habit do I need to leave for the sake of Allah? The path back begins the moment the servant says with sincerity: Astaghfirullah wa atoobu ilayh—I seek Allah’s forgiveness and I repent to Him.

Istighfar brings relief to the heart and opens doors that a person may not expect. It brings a servant closer to Allah, increases humility, and protects from arrogance. It reminds us that we are always in need of our Lord—not only when we are in trouble, but in every breath, every prayer, and every moment of our lives.

The one who asks forgiveness is not admitting defeat; rather, he is choosing victory over the ego. He is saying: “My Lord, I need You. My Lord, I cannot save myself without Your mercy. My Lord, I return to You.”

I say these words of mine, and I ask Allah to forgive me and you. Ask Him for forgiveness, for He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Second Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, upon his family, his companions, and all who follow them with excellence until the Day of Judgment.

Servants of Allah, repentance is urgent because none of us knows how much time remains. Do not delay returning to Allah. Do not say, “I will change later,” because later is not promised. The wisest servant is the one who repents today, before the heart hardens, before the opportunity passes, and before standing before Allah with nothing hidden.

Make istighfar part of your morning and evening. Say it after prayer. Say it when you remember a mistake. Say it when you feel distant from Allah. Say it when life feels heavy. Teach it to your children. Fill your homes with it. A tongue moist with istighfar is a sign of a heart that still knows its Lord.

Practical Steps for This Week

• Choose one sin or bad habit and make a sincere plan to leave it for Allah.
• Say “Astaghfirullah wa atoobu ilayh” every day with presence of heart.
• Pray two rak‘ahs of repentance when you fall into sin, then ask Allah to forgive you.
• If you wronged someone, apologize, repair the harm, or return what is owed.
• End each day by reviewing your actions and asking Allah for forgiveness.

Brothers and sisters, never think your sins are too great for Allah’s mercy, and never think your repentance is too small for Allah to accept. Come to Allah with honesty, humility, and hope. He is the One who forgives, the One who conceals faults, the One who accepts repentance, and the One who loves those who return to Him.

O Allah, forgive our sins, the small and the great, the first and the last, the public and the private. O Allah, make us among those who repent often and purify themselves. O Allah, soften our hearts, conceal our faults, accept our repentance, and guide us to what pleases You.

O Allah, forgive our parents, our families, our teachers, our communities, and all believing men and women. O Allah, help us leave every sin that distances us from You, and replace our bad deeds with good deeds. O Allah, make the best of our days the day we meet You.

Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression. Remember Allah, and He will remember you. Thank Him, and He will increase you. Seek His forgiveness, and He will forgive you.

And allah (swt) knows best.