أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
سَابِقُوٓا إِلٰى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّنْ رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَآءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِۦ ۚ ذٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَنْ يَشَآءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ
Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whose width is like the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believed in Allah and His messengers. That is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
[QS. Al-Hadid: Verse 21]
This ayah tells us to race for two things.
1. Seeking forgiveness
2. Seeking paradise or جنة
Allah gave a similar message in Soorah AL Imran
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 133:
وَسَارِعُوا إِلَىٰ مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is (as) the heavens and the earth, it is prepared for those who guard (against evil).
I was thinking about the differences between two ayah. First one says race, second one says hasten. First one says paradise is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messenger. Second one says paradise is prepared for متقين those who guard against evil.
So in conclusion, paradise cannot be attained without believing in Allah and His messenger and without guarding against evil.
And since seeking forgiveness is mentioned before seeking paradise so we cannot enter Paradise without seeking forgiveness.
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I searched Quran for duaa for seeking forgiveness and there are so many. Trying to list them all here.
Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 286:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلَانَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability; for it is (the benefit of) what it has earned and upon it (the evil of) what it has wrought: Our Lord! do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake; Our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us, Our Lord do not impose upon us that which we have not the strength to bear; and pardon us and grant us protection and have mercy on us, Thou art our Patron, so help us against the unbelieving people.
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 16:
الَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Those who say: Our Lord! surely we believe, therefore forgive us our faults and save us from the chastisement of the fire.
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 147:
وَمَا كَانَ قَوْلَهُمْ إِلَّا أَن قَالُوا رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
And their saying was no other than that they said: Our Lord! forgive us our faults and our extravagance in our affair and make firm our feet and help us against the unbelieving people.
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 193:
رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلْإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ
Our Lord! surely we have heard a preacher calling to the faith, saying: Believe in your Lord, so we did believe; Our Lord! forgive us therefore our faults, and cover our evil deeds and make us die with the righteous.
Surah Al-Araf, Verse 23:
قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
They said: Our Lord! We have been unjust to ourselves, and if Thou forgive us not, and have (not) mercy on us, we shall certainly be of the losers.
Surah Al-Araf, Verse 143:
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِي وَلَٰكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And when Musa came at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said: My Lord! show me (Thyself), so that I may look upon Thee. He said: You cannot (bear to) see Me but look at the mountain, if it remains firm in its place, then will you see Me; but when his Lord manifested His glory to the mountain He made it crumble and Musa fell down in a swoon; then when he recovered, he said: Glory be to Thee, I turn to Thee, and I am the first of the believers.
Surah Ibraheem - 14:41
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
O our Lord! Cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness - me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!
Surah Al-Anbiya, Verse 87:
وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
And Yunus, when he went away in wrath, so he thought that We would not straiten him, so he called out among afflictions: There is no god but Thou, glory be to Thee; surely I am of those who make themselves to suffer loss.
Surah Al-Mumenoon, Verse 118:
وَقُل رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
And say: O my Lord! forgive and have mercy, and Thou art the best of the Merciful ones.
Surah Al-A'raf - 7:151
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِي رَحْمَتِكَ ۖ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
O my Lord! Forgive me and my brother, and make us enter into Your Mercy, for you are the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.
Surah Al-Qasas, Verse 16:
قَالَ رَبِّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَغَفَرَ لَهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
He said: My Lord! surely I have done harm to myself, so do Thou protect me. So He protected him; surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Surah Al-A'raf - 7:155-156
أَنْتَ وَلِيُّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا ۖ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْغَافِرِينَ
وَاكْتُبْ لَنَا فِي هَٰذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَا إِلَيْكَ
(O my Lord) You are our Protector, so forgive us and have mercy upon us; and You are the best of forgivers.
And ordain for us good in this world, and in the Hereafter. Certainly we have turned unto You.
Surah Nooh - 71:28
رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا
My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.
Surah Ghafir, Verse 7:
الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِينَ تَابُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا سَبِيلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ
Those who bear the power and those around Him celebrate the praise of their Lord and believe in Him and ask protection for those who believe: Our Lord! Thou embracest all things in mercy and knowledge, therefore grant protection to those who turn (to Thee) and follow Thy way, and save them from the punishment of the hell:
Surah Al-Hashr, Verse 10:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And those who come after them say: Our Lord! forgive us and those of our brethren who had precedence of us in faith, and do not allow any spite to remain in our hearts towards those who believe, our Lord! surely Thou art Kind, Merciful.
Surah Al-Mumtahina, Verse 5:
رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Our Lord! do not make us a trial for those who disbelieve, and forgive us, our Lord! surely Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.
Surah At-Tahrim, Verse 8:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُورَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
O you who believe! turn to Allah a sincere turning; maybe your Lord will remove from you your evil and cause you to enter gardens beneath which rivers flow, on the day on which Allah will not abase the Prophet and those who believe with him; their light shall run on before them and on their right hands; they shall say: Our Lord! make perfect for us our light, and grant us protection, surely Thou hast power over all things.
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I also searched for duaas in Quran for seeking paradise and found these three duaas in Quran seeking جنة or Paradise explicitly.
This dua is made by angels for believers
رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَیْئٍ رَّحْمَةً وَّعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِیْنَ تَابُوْا وَاتَّبَعُوْا سَبِیْلَكَ وَ قِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِیْمِ رَبَّنَا وَاَدْخِلهُمْ جَنّاتِ عَدْنٍ الَّتِیْ وَعَدْتَّهُمْ وَ مَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ اٰبَآئِهِمْ وَ اَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَ ذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ ۗ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ الْعَزِیْزُ الْحَكِیْمُ
Our Lord, You have encompassed all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who have repented and followed Your way and protect them from the punishment of Hellfire. Our Lord, and admit them to gardens of perpetual residence which You have promised them and whoever was righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring. Indeed, it is You who is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (7,8 المؤمن )
This dua was made by Pharoa's wife
رَبِّ ابْنِ لِیْ عِنْدَكَ بَیْتًا فِی الْجَنَّةِ
My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise.
اے میرے رب ! میرے لیے اپنے پاس جنت میں ایک گھر بنا دے۔
( التّحْریم : 11 )
This dua was made by Ibrahim asa
وَاجْعَلْنِیْ مِنْ وَّرَثَةِ جَنَّةِ النَّعِيْمِ
And place me among the inheritors of the Garden of pleasures.
( الشعرائ :85 )
I also reached to the conclusion that we need to repent a lot because angels make this dua for paradise for those who repent and follow Allah's path.
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Also I searched for Quran for other hints to enter Paradise and found following
Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 214:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
Or do you think that you would enter the garden while yet the state of those who have passed away before you has not come upon you; distress and affliction befell them and they were shaken violently, so that the Apostle and those who believed with him said: When will the help of Allah come? Now surely the help of Allah is near.
That means we need to be ready for trials if we are seeking paradise.
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I also found following
Surah Aal-e-Imran, Verse 142:
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ
Do you think that you will enter the garden while Allah has not yet known those who strive hard from among you, and (He has not) known the patient.
That means we cannot enter Paradise without striving and being patient.
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I also found following
Surah Hud, Verse 23:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَخْبَتُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Surely (as to) those who believe and do good and humble themselves to their Lord, these are the dwellers of the garden, in it they will abide.
That means we cannot enter Paradise without humbling ourselves.
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I also found following
Surah Fussilat, Verse 30:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ
(As for) those who say: Our Lord is Allah, then continue in the right way, the angels descend upon them, saying: Fear not, nor be grieved, and receive good news of the garden which you were promised.
That means continuation or perseverance is required if we hope for paradise.
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I also found following account of people who were rewarded paradise.
Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 83-85:
وَإِذَا سَمِعُوا مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ تَرَىٰ أَعْيُنَهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ الدَّمْعِ مِمَّا عَرَفُوا مِنَ الْحَقِّ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَ
وَمَا لَنَا لَا نُؤْمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَمَا جَاءَنَا مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَنَطْمَعُ أَن يُدْخِلَنَا رَبُّنَا مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الصَّالِحِينَ
فَأَثَابَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِمَا قَالُوا جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
And when they hear what has been revealed to the apostle you will see their eyes overflowing with tears on account of the truth that they recognize; they say: Our Lord! we believe, so write us down with the witnesses.
And what (reason) have we that we should not believe in Allah and in the truth that has come to us, while we earnestly desire that our Lord should cause us to enter with the good people?
Surah Al-Maeda, Verse 85:
Therefore Allah rewarded them on account of what they said, with gardens in which rivers flow to abide in them; and this is the reward of those who do good (to others).
So we need to check ourselves do we cry on hearing this truth and do we say like these people who are rewarded paradise.
Also I am trying to list all duaas to seek forgiveness from hadith here
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتَ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ، وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِر لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship but You. You created me and I am your slave. I keep Your covenant, and my pledge to You so far as I am able. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I admit to Your blessings upon me, and I admit to my misdeeds. Forgive me, for there is none who may forgive sins but You.
Al-Bukhari 7/150. Other reports are in An-Nasa'i and At-Tirmithi.
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنَّكَ عَفُوّ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّیْ
O Allah! Indeed You are the One Who forgives; You love to forgive so forgive me.
اے ﷲ! بے شک تو معاف کرنے وال اہے، معاف کرنے کو پسند کرتا ہے، پس مجھے معاف کر دے۔
( سنن الترمذی، کتاب الدعوات ،[با ب فی فضل سؤال العا فیة] :3513 )
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ ذَنْبِیْ کُلَّهُ دِقَّهُ وَجِلَّهُ وَ اَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ وَعَلَانِیَتَهُ وَسِرَّهُ
O Allah! Forgive me all my sins, whether few or numerous, those of the present and the Past, those committed openly or secretly.
اے ﷲ! میرے سب گناہوں کو بخش دے تھوڑے ہوں یا بہت، گزشتہ ہو یا موجودہ، کھلے ہوں یا چھپے۔
( صحیح مسلم،کتاب الصلاة، باب ما یقال فی الرکوع والسجود : 1084)
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ خَطِيْئَتِیْ وَجَھْلِیْ وَاِسْرَافِیْ فِیْ اَمْرِیْ وَمَا اَنْتَ اَعْلَمُ بِهِ مِنِّیْ، اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِیْ هَزْلِیْ وَ جِدِّیْ وَخَطَئِیْ وَعَمْدِیْ وَکُلُّ ذٰلِكَ عِنْدِیْ
O Allah! Forgive my faults, my ignorance, exceeding in my matters and all that which You know better than me. O Allah! Forgive my sins done in jest, knowingly, mistakenly and those done intentionally and all these are in me.
اے ﷲ! بخش دے میری خطا، میری جہالت، میرے کام میں میری زیادتی اور وہ جس کے بارے میں تو مجھ سے زیادہ جانتا ہے، اے ﷲ! ہنسی مذاق میں، سنجیدگی میں، بھول کے اور جان کر کئے ہوئے میرے گناہ بخش دے اور یہ سب میرے اندر ہیں۔
(صحیح البخاری،کتاب الدعوات، باب قول النبیۖ اللّٰھم اغفر لی ما قدمت وما اخرت : 6399 )
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ الَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إلاَّ هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيّوُمُ وأَتُوبُ إِلَيهِ
I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Mighty, Whom there is none worthy of worship except Him, the Living, the Eternal, and I repent to Him, Allah will forgive him even if he has deserted the army's ranks.
Abu Dawud 2/85, At-Tirmithi 5/569, Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/182-183, An-Nasa'i 1/279, Muslim 1/350, Muslim 4/2075, Jami'ul-'Usool 4/386
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اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْماً كَثِيراً، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself and no one forgives sins but You. So, grant me forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, you are Forgiving, Merciful.
Al-Bukhari 8/168, Muslim 4/2078
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اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي
O Allah forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, protect me, provide for me and elevate me.
Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, At-Tirmithi. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 1/90 and Sahih Ibn Majah 1/148
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