اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِفُلانٍ، وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ في المَهْدِيِّينَ، وَاخْلُفْهُ في عَقِبِهِ في الغَابِرِينَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يا رَبَّ العَالَمِينَ، وَافْسَحْ لَهُ في قَبْرِهِ، وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فيهِ
O Allah, forgive [Name of the deceased], elevate his rank among those who are guided, and leave behind progeny who will pray for him. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Make his grave spacious and illuminate it for him.
Allahummaghfir lifulan, warfa' darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeen, wakhlufhu fi 'aqibihi fil-ghabireen, waghfir lana walahu ya Rabb al-'alamin, wafsah lahu fi qabrihi, wa nawwir lahu feehi.
When to Read
This beautiful supplication is specifically recommended by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ when offering the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah). It's also a deeply meaningful dua to recite anytime after the passing of a loved one, especially when you remember their cheerful spirit and the joy they brought into your life. Reciting it at funerals, on the anniversary of their passing, or simply when their memory comes to mind is a way to continue sending them spiritual benefit.
How to Read
When reciting this dua, it is best to do so with sincerity and a heartfelt remembrance of the deceased. Focus on the meaning of the words, asking Allah (SWT) for His immense mercy and forgiveness. If reciting at a funeral prayer, follow the guidance of the Imam. If reciting independently, you can raise your hands slightly as you would in other supplications, though it is not a strict requirement for this particular dua. The most important aspect is the intention and the earnest plea to Allah.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encapsulates several profound requests. Firstly, it asks for Allah's forgiveness, which is the ultimate need for any soul in the hereafter. Secondly, it seeks elevation of their status among the guided, implying a high place in Paradise. The mention of 'leaving behind progeny who will pray for him' highlights the importance of righteous descendants who continue to send blessings to their departed family. Finally, the request for a spacious and illuminated grave acknowledges the reality of the grave as an intermediate stage, asking Allah to make it a place of comfort rather than torment. Remembering a joyful person with such a dua is a way of honoring their memory by continuing to seek good for them.
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'When you offer the funeral prayer, say: Allahumma-ghfir li-hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shāhidinā wa ghā'ibinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā, wa dhakarinā wa unthānā. Allahumma man aḥyaytahu minnā fa-aḥyihi 'alā al-Islām, wa man tawaffaytahu minnā fa-tawaffahu 'alā al-Imān. Allahumma lā taḥrimnā ajrahu wa lā tuḍillanā ba'dahu.' (O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever among us You keep alive, keep him alive on Islam, and whoever of us You cause to die, cause him to die on faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not cause us to go astray after him.) **(Note: The provided Arabic text is a more specific version often recited for an individual, derived from the general funeral prayer dua and the concept of asking for the deceased's legacy. The general funeral prayer dua itself is in Sahih Muslim 907, Sahih al-Bukhari 1336).** The specific wording in the entry is a well-established supplication used when praying for an individual, emphasizing their specific state and legacy.