His words, “I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done,” mean: I turn to You for refuge, O Allah, and seek Your protection from the evil consequences of what I have done, its grievous outcome, the punishment it incurs, and its remaining unforgiven—or from returning to similar evil deeds, vile actions, and reprehensible traits.
His words, “I acknowledge Your favor upon me,” mean: I acknowledge the immensity of Your blessings upon me and Your unceasing bounty and kindness. This includes thanking the Bestower, Glorified is He, and disavowing ingratitude for His blessings.
His words, “And I acknowledge my sin,” mean: I admit my sin—whatever offense or misdeed I have committed by failing to fulfill an obligation or committing something prohibited. Acknowledging one’s sins and shortcomings is a path to repentance and returning to Allah. Whoever acknowledges his sin and repents of it, Allah accepts his repentance.
His words, “So forgive me,” mean: O Allah, forgive me all my sins. Your mercy is vast, Your pardon is gracious, and no sin is too great for You to forgive. You are the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful, and none forgives sins but You. Allah Most High says: “Those who, when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who can forgive sins except Allah?” 1.
The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—then concluded this supplication by explaining the immense reward and abundant recompense attained by whoever observes it every morning and evening. He said: “Whoever recites it—that is, these words—during the day with firm conviction—that is, believing them to be true and holding them as a matter of faith, since they are the words of the one protected from error, who does not speak from his own inclination; it is only a revelation sent down, may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and then dies that same day before evening, will be among the people of Paradise. Whoever recites it at night with firm conviction and dies before morning will be among the people of Paradise.”