Thread by @tafsirdoctor

I was reticent but don’t mind saying something on واستغفر لذنبك if my understanding matters to anyone. Please don’t read on if it doesn’t :)

https://twitter.com/Kunta_Kinte786/status/1476477125142233088

Already in the thread, I shared a few things from the mufassireen which get at the various angles of the question. What I’ll say here is based on 2 or more of those answers.

Firstly I should say that I’m not inclined to the idea that “your Ummah’s sin” is implied. I want to read the ayah as straightforwardly as possible - but also in light of other texts and principles.

Istighfar is a core virtue in Islam: how can our exemplar ﷺ be devoid of it? It’s a process of purification and elevation. Just because someone is already far above us, it doesn’t mean they can’t keep rising.

Then “your sin” doesn’t have to be taken literally. It might not refer to something unlawful. It may be whatever falls short of that person’s standard. I get this from the way the pronoun is attached to the singular noun: ذنبك.

I say a bit more on these concepts here with reference to the word “awwāb”. And Allah ﷻ knows best!
quranreflect.com/posts/9537