1. That Allah pardon him for that which is between Him (Allah) and the sinner,

2. That Allah screen him (the sinner) from being seen by His worshippers, such that He does not expose him among the people, and

3. That Allah keep him (the sinner) safe in what remains, such that he does not fall into similar sins (as he committed in the past).

So, these three (3) things which are included in this supplication, i.e., al-‘Afwu (pardon), and al-Maghfirah (forgiveness), and ar-Rahmah (mercy), are what the Sa’adah (good fortune) and Falah (success) of the human being revolves around.

So, al-Afaw (pardon) entails Allah, the Most High, waiting His right (to punish the sin), and pardoning them for it; while al-Maghfirah (forgiveness) entails protecting them from the evil (consequences) of their sins, and His turning towards them and being pleased with them; while ar-Rahmah (mercy) includes both of these things, in addition to al-Ihsan (beneficence towards them), al-‘Atfu (sympathy towards them), and al-Birr (kindness to them).

So, these three (3) things (together) entail an-Najah (being saved) from ash-Sharr (every evil) and al-Fawz (success) in achieving al-Khair (all good).

[Excerpt taken from ‘Supplications Of The Believers Which Are Mentioned In The Qur’an’ Taken from Fiqh al-Ad’iyah wal-Adhkar by Shaykh ‘Abdur-Razzaq ibn ‘Abdul-Muhsin al-Badr. Translated by Abu Mohammad Abdur-Rauf Shākir]