Rabbana Zalamna Anfusana — The Dua of Adam (peace be upon him)

This dua is the first dua of repentance in the history of humankind. Adam (peace be upon him) and Hawwa, after eating the forbidden fruit in Paradise, realized their error and turned to their Lord in regret. In the Noble Qur'an, after it is stated, "Then Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that in which they had been" (Al-Baqarah 36), it is stated, "Then Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is the Ever-Accepting of repentance, the Most Merciful" (Al-Baqarah 37).

What is striking in Adam's dua is that he confessed that he had wronged his own soul. He did not lay the sin on anyone else, he did not make Satan an excuse; he said directly, "We have wronged ourselves." This is "confession," one of the most important conditions of repentance. He then declared that he stood in need of Allah's forgiveness and mercy. By saying that he would be ruined if he were not forgiven, he laid bare the helplessness of the servant.

This dua is the finest example for everyone who regrets his sins and wishes to repent. Even Adam (peace be upon him), the father of the prophets, pleaded in this way when he erred. And Allah accepted his repentance. A person may err, but what matters is to feel regret and to repent sincerely.