The best way to ask forgiveness (Sayyid al-Istighfar): Dua

Arabic

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلٰى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُۥ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ ▶

How to say it

al-laa-hum-ma an-ta rab-bee laa i-laa-ha il-laa an-ta, kha-laq-ta-nee wa a-na 'ab-du-ka, wa a-na 'a-laa 'ah-di-ka wa wa'-di-ka mas-ta-ṭa'-tu, a-'oo-dhu bi-ka min shar-ri maa ṣa-na'-tu, a-boo-'u la-ka bi-ni'-ma-ti-ka 'a-lay-ya, wa a-boo-'u la-ka bi-dham-bee, fagh-fir lee, fa in-na-hoo laa yagh-fi-rudh dhu-noo-ba il-laa ant

Meaning

“O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I keep Your covenant and my promise to You as much as I can. I seek Your protection from the evil of what I have done. I admit Your blessings upon me, and I admit my sins, so forgive me, for no one forgives sins except You.”