اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِفُلانٍ، وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مَدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ، وَفُكَّهُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَثَبِّتْهُ بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ، وَاقْضِ عَنْهُ دَيْنَكَ، وَعَنْهُ
O Allah, forgive [Name of deceased], have mercy on him, give him strength, pardon him, honor his reception, make his grave spacious, wash him with water, snow, and hail. Cleanse him of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Give him a home better than his home, a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse. Admit him to Paradise, protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire. Save him from Satan, and make firm his words. And pay his debt and his obligations (that he owed to Allah).
*Allahumma-ghfir li [Fulān] (name of deceased), war-hamhu, wa 'aafihi, wa-'afu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi' madkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataaya kama yunaqqa-th-thawb-ul-abyadu minad-danasi, wa abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-jannata, wa a'idh-hu min 'adhaabil-qabri wa min 'adhaabin-naari, wa fukka-hu min ash-shaytaani, wa thabbit-hu bil-qawli-th-thaabiti, waqdhi 'anhu daynaka, wa 'anhu*
When to Read
This supplication is ideal to recite when a person has passed away, particularly when offering funeral prayers or when visiting the grave. It is also beneficial to make this dua anytime for a deceased Muslim, seeking Allah's continuous mercy for them. Especially poignant if the deceased had made vows (nazr) to Allah that they could not fulfill due to death. This dua encompasses a comprehensive request for Allah to cover those unfulfilled obligations, as indicated by the phrase 'waqdhi 'anhu daynaka, wa 'anhu' (And pay his debt and his obligations that he owed to Allah).
How to Read
Recite with sincerity and humility, focusing on the meaning of the words. If reciting for a specific person, mention their name where indicated by '[Fulān]'. It is recommended to raise your hands during the dua, as is customary when making supplication. Ensure you are in a state of purity if possible, although not strictly mandatory for a dua for the deceased. The most important aspect is the heartfelt plea to Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua is a comprehensive request for the deceased's well-being in the Hereafter. It asks for Allah's forgiveness, mercy, and protection from all forms of torment. By asking Allah to 'pay his debt and his obligations', it directly addresses the issue of unfulfilled vows (nazr), seeking Allah's grace to cover what the deceased could not complete. This highlights the profound mercy of Allah, who can forgive and fulfill on behalf of His servant. Making dua for the deceased is an act of immense kindness and strengthens the bond of brotherhood/sisterhood in faith, as it is a continuous charity for them.
Source & Authentication
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught us a supplication to be said for the deceased. When the funeral prayer was offered for him, he said: 'O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present among us and those who are absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whom You keep alive on earth, let him live in faith, and whom You cause to die, let him die in faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not cause us to go astray after him.' (The narrator then added): 'O Allah, forgive Fulān (the deceased's name) and elevate his rank among the guided, and give him a wide place in his grave, and forgive him, and lighten the burden upon him. And forgive us, O our Lord, and him. (This supplication implies): and grant him a good ending, and give him respite, and forgive him and our men and women, and our young and old, and our youth and our elders, and our free men and our slaves. If you keep him alive, keep him alive amongst us in Islam, and if you cause him to die, cause him to die in the state of Islam.' He (the narrator) said: 'O Allah, forgive him, and have mercy on him, and grant him security, and give him ample provision, and honor his reception, and make his grave spacious, and wash him with water and snow and hail, and purify him from sins as a white garment is purified from dirt, and give him a house better than his house, and a family better than his family, and admit him to Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and from the punishment of the Fire, and pay his debt and his obligations.' He said: 'And Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: 'When a man dies, his actions come to an end, except for three things: an ongoing charity, knowledge from which others benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him.' (Sahih Muslim 963).