Is Istighfaar (asking Allah for forgiveness) considered Dhikr (expressions of remembrance of Allah)?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Istighfaar is considered Thikr; rather, it is one of the best forms of Thikr and the most beneficial to the person.

The excellence of forgiveness is mentioned in many verses in the Quran and in the hadeeth of the Prophet .

Allah says (what means):

·        {And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 73:20]

·        {And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him.} [Quran 11:90]

Allah also commanded His Prophet to seek forgiveness, and thus it is a commandment to his nation as well. Allah says (what means):

·        {Then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.} [Quran 110:3]

·        {And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 4:106]

Also, the Prophet said, “O people! Turn to Allah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, for I turn to Him in repentance and I seek His forgiveness a hundred times a day." [Ahmad and An-Naasa’i - Al-Arna'oot and Al-Albaani graded it saheeh (sound)]

The Prophet also said, “If anyone constantly seeks forgiveness (from Allah), Allah will make for him a way out of every hardship, and a relief from every anxiety, and provide him from (sources) he could never imagine.” [Abu Dawood, An-Naasa’i, Ibn Majah and others] The scholars had reservations about its chain of narration.

Allah knows best.