اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِفُلَانٍ، وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ.
O Allah, forgive [Name of deceased], have mercy upon him, grant him well-being, and pardon him. Honor his reception, make his grave spacious, and wash him with water, snow, and hail. Purify him from sins just as a white garment is purified from dirt. Replace his home with a better home, his family with a better family, and his spouse with a better spouse. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire.
Allahumma-ghfir li [Fulan], wa-rhamhu, wa 'aafihi, wa-'afu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi' mudkhalahu, wa-ghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataaya kama yunaqqath-thawbul-abyadu minad-danasi, wa abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannata, wa a'idhu min 'adhabil-qabri wa 'adhabin-naari.
When to Read
This is the standard supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for any deceased Muslim. We can make it at any time, especially after their passing, during funerals, on anniversaries of their death, or even when remembering them fondly. It’s a beautiful way to honor their memory by asking Allah to grant them the best of what He has to offer in the Hereafter, recognizing that even those known for their lightheartedness will need Allah's immense mercy.
How to Read
When reciting this dua, it's crucial to replace '[Fulan]' with the name of the deceased person. If you know their mother's name, you can say '[Fulan ibn Fulanah]' (so-and-so, son/daughter of so-and-so) to be more specific. Say it with sincerity, picturing the person and asking Allah to bestow His boundless mercy upon them. It is best to say it with a heartfelt intention, focusing on the meaning of each phrase.
Virtues & Benefits
This comprehensive dua encompasses all aspects of seeking Allah's forgiveness and mercy for the deceased. It asks for: 1. **Forgiveness and Pardon:** 'Allahumma-ghfir li... wa-'afu 'anhu'. 2. **Well-being and Security:** 'wa 'aafihi' (grant him health/well-being). 3. **Honored Hospitality:** 'wa akrim nuzulahu' (honor his reception). 4. **Spacious Dwelling:** 'wa wassi' mudkhalahu' (make his grave spacious). 5. **Purification:** 'wa-ghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataaya...' (cleanse him from sins). 6. **Better Replacement:** 'wa abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi' (exchange his worldly abode, family, and spouse for better in the Hereafter). 7. **Entry to Paradise:** 'wa adkhilhul-jannata' (admit him to Jannah). 8. **Protection from Hellfire:** 'wa a'idhu min 'adhabil-qabri wa 'adhabin-naari' (save him from grave and hellfire punishment). This covers the past (sins), present (burial place), and future (Hereafter), making it an all-encompassing supplication for the deceased. Allah promises to accept the supplications of the believers for their brethren. The Prophet ﷺ also said: 'When a person dies, their deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who supplicates for them.' (Sahih Muslim 1631). Our dua for them is a form of this righteous child's supplication.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that when a funeral procession passed by, a man said: "He has found rest." Abu Hurairah said: "What do you mean by 'He has found rest'?" He said: "He has found rest from the hardship of this world and has reached its end." Abu Hurairah said: "No, by Allah! When a believer dies, he is indeed at rest, but when a disbeliever dies, he is to be rested from him." Then Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say when he prayed the funeral prayer: 'Allahumma-ghfir li hayyina wa mayyitina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarinna wa unthana, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina. Allahumma man ahya'tahu minna fa-ahyihi 'ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa-tawaffahu 'ala al-iman. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu, wa la tudhillana ba'dahu.' (O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our young and our old, our males and our females, our present and our absent. O Allah, whoever You keep alive among us, keep him alive in Islam, and whoever You cause to die among us, cause him to die with faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not cause us to go astray after him). And he said: 'Allahumma-ghfir li fulaanin warhamhu wa 'aafihi wa-'fu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi' mudkhalahu...' (O Allah, forgive [Name of deceased], have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him. Honor his reception and make his grave spacious...)' - Sahih Muslim 963.