اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّتْهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ، وَلاَ تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ
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 upon Islam, and whoever You cause to die among us, cause him to die upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not cause us to go astray after him.
Allahumma ighfir li hayyina wa mayyitina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa'ahyihi 'ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu 'ala al-iman. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu, wa la tudhillana ba'dahu.
When to Read
This comprehensive supplication is recited during the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) for the deceased. It's also a general dua we can make for any Muslim who has passed away, seeking Allah's mercy and forgiveness for them. Making this dua can be especially poignant for someone who left behind significant debts, as it encompasses a plea for Allah to forgive them and grant them a good end, which indirectly aids them in the hereafter.
How to Read
This dua is typically recited during the funeral prayer, after the initial takbir (saying Allahu Akbar). Stand facing the Qiblah, with the deceased placed in front of the Imam. The funeral prayer is usually prayed in congregation. If praying individually, you can make this dua while facing the direction of the deceased's grave or simply with the intention for them after they have been buried.
Virtues & Benefits
This beautiful dua encapsulates so much for the deceased: seeking Allah's forgiveness for all their sins (both those known and unknown, committed while alive or at the moment of death), ensuring they are kept upon Islam if they are alive and upon faith if they have passed, and asking that we not be deprived of the reward for remembering them and making dua for them. For a deceased burdened with debt, this general plea for Allah's mercy is crucial. While the debts owed to people require resolution in the dunya or through Allah's grace, this dua seeks the ultimate forgiveness and mercy that can lighten their burden in the grave and beyond. It is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him." (Sahih Muslim 1631). Making dua for the deceased is one of the most direct ways we can benefit them after their passing.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 1498, classified as Hasan). The funeral prayer includes a specific dua, and the one cited in the `arabicText` field is a well-known and comprehensive supplication used in this context.