Is the Hadith on Istighfar Marfu‘?

Question

Is the istighfar formula ‘Astaghfirullah… (up to)… wa atubu ilayhi’ found in a hadith marfu‘ [traced back to the Prophet ﷺ], and is it correct to recite it as one’s regular practice? And is it a summary of all the formulas of istighfar? And are they all equal in seeking forgiveness?

Answer

Yes, it is found in a marfu‘ hadith. The formulas that have come down are various; each one has its own particular merit.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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