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, those who are present and those who are absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever among us You keep alive, keep him alive in Islam, and whoever among us You cause to die, cause him to die in faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of its (i.e., the deceased's) reward, and do not let us stray after him.
Allahumma ighfir 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 tahrimna ajrahu wa la tudhillana ba'dahu.
When to Read
This comprehensive supplication is ideally recited during the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah). However, it can also be recited at any time when remembering a deceased person, especially when seeking forgiveness and mercy for them from Allah. It is particularly poignant when contemplating the trials and tribulations a person may have faced in life, asking Allah to grant them ease and elevate their status in the hereafter.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincere intention and a heartfelt plea to Allah. Focus on the meaning of the words, acknowledging Allah's absolute power and mercy. It's a prayer for both the deceased and for ourselves, asking for steadfastness in faith. The funeral prayer itself has specific etiquette, but when reciting this outside of it, maintaining a state of purity and facing the Qiblah is recommended.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua encompasses a holistic request for the deceased and the community. By asking for forgiveness for the living and the dead, we extend Allah's mercy to all. The specific mention of keeping the living upon Islam and causing the dead to die upon Iman highlights the ultimate goal of our faith. The plea to not be deprived of the deceased's reward and not to go astray after them underscores our dependence on Allah and our desire to follow the righteous path. It's a reminder that our deeds continue to benefit others even after we've left this world, and that the community's supplications are vital for the deceased.
Source & Authentication
Ibn Majah narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘When you pray over the deceased, say: Allahumma ighfir li hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man aḥyaytahu minna fa aḥyihi 'ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu 'ala al-Iman. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la tudhillana ba'dahu.' (This hadith is Hasan).