اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy upon him, grant him well-being and pardon him. Honor his resting place and make his entrance spacious. Wash him with water, snow, and hail. Purify him from sins as a white garment is purified from dirt. Exchange his home for a better home, his family for a better family, and his spouse for a better spouse. Enter him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire.
Allahumma-ghfir lahu wa-rhamhu wa-'afihi wa-'fu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi' madkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqayta-th-thawbal-abyada min ad-danasi, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhu al-jannah, wa a'idhhu min 'adhabi-l-qabri wa min 'adhabi-n-nar.
When to Read
This profound supplication is especially poignant when we, or our loved ones, face trials, and we think of those who have passed on. When we hear of calamities, or experience personal loss and hardship, remembering the deceased and praying for their comfort and forgiveness is a beautiful act. It's a way to connect with our departed brethren, seeking Allah's mercy for them while simultaneously seeking His strength and solace for ourselves in our own trials. Making this dua when visiting graves, during Ramadan, or at any time we feel a calling to remember our deceased family and friends is deeply beneficial.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and heartfelt conviction, focusing on the meaning of each phrase. Imagine Allah's infinite mercy embracing the deceased. It is best recited with a calm heart, ideally while facing the direction of the Kaaba if possible, though this is not a strict condition. The intention is key: a pure desire for the deceased's well-being in the Hereafter and a humble request to the Almighty. You can raise your hands slightly in supplication as is customary for dua. Repeat it as often as you wish, especially on a Friday or after any prayer.
Virtues & Benefits
This comprehensive dua covers the most crucial aspects of a believer's needs after death: forgiveness of sins, mercy, well-being, a dignified reception, expansion of their resting place, purification, a better abode and family in the Hereafter, and protection from the grave and hellfire. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua, indicating its immense weight and benefit. By making it, we not only aid the deceased but also remind ourselves of our own mortality and the importance of seeking Allah's favor in this life and the next. It fosters empathy and strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood within the Ummah, even across the veil of death.
Source & Authentication
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I said to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: 'O Messenger of Allah, what is the matter with Abu Salamah? Some people among the Muslims have died.' He said: 'He has died.' I said: 'And what is the supplication?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, forgive him and elevate his degree among those who are rightly guided, and grant him a strong position among the successors. And forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. And broaden his grave and illuminate it for him.' Umm Salamah said: 'I continued to say this dua until Allah willed for him to die.' Then Abu Salamah died, and I said it, and the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Say: O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, and grant him security, and pardon him. Be generous to him in his reception, and make his grave spacious. Wash him with water and snow and hail, and purify him from his mistakes as You purified the white garment from filth. Give him a house better than his house, and a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse. And admit him to Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave or the punishment of the Fire.' He (the narrator) said: 'So some of my family said: 'What is the meaning of 'better than his family'?' He said: 'That is to say, it is better for him, but his family in this world will not be wronged.' And (he said): 'And admit him to Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave or the punishment of the Fire.'