اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا، اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our witnesses and our absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. 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 let us stray after him.
Allahumma-ghfir li-hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarinā wa unthana. Allahumma man aḥyaytahu minna fa aḥyihi 'ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu 'ala al-iman. Allahumma la taḥrimna ajrahu wa la tuḍillana ba'dahu.
When to Read
This is a comprehensive supplication that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to recite for the deceased. It is particularly poignant to make this dua during Ramadan, a month of immense mercy and forgiveness. You can recite it after the obligatory prayers, during the times when supplications are readily accepted (like between the adhan and iqamah, or in the last third of the night), or whenever you remember the deceased.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and contemplation, visualizing the deceased person and sincerely asking Allah for His mercy upon them. Ensure you pronounce the Arabic words clearly and with proper intention. It's beneficial to reflect on each part of the dua: asking for forgiveness for the living and the dead, acknowledging everyone, and praying for a righteous life and death upon faith.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encapsulates the essence of seeking Allah's unending mercy for the deceased, a vital act of kindness that benefits both the departed and the one making the supplication. The Prophet ﷺ himself taught this comprehensive prayer, highlighting its importance. Reciting it during Ramadan, a month where deeds are multiplied and supplications are particularly accepted, amplifies its potential impact. The Hadith states that a person's good deeds continue even after death through their children or others praying for them, as mentioned in Sahih Muslim 1631. Making this dua is a way of fulfilling that spiritual connection and sending a stream of divine mercy to those who have passed on.
Source & Authentication
We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and it was said to him: Would that you supplicate Allah for all of them. He said: I have been sent as a mercy, and I have not been sent as a scourge. Allahumma-ghfir li-hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarinā wa unthana. Allahumma man aḥyaytahu minna fa aḥyihi 'ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu 'ala al-iman. Allahumma la taḥrimna ajrahu wa la tuḍillana ba'dahu. (Sahih Muslim 1054)