اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِفُلانٍ وارْحَمْهُ وعافِهِ واعْفُ عنْهُ وأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ ووَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ واغْسِلْهُ بالماءِ والثَّلْجِ والبَرَدِ ونَقِّهِ مِنَ الخَطايا كما يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وأَبْدِلْهُ دارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دارِهِ وأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ وأَدْخِلْهُ الجَنَّةَ وأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَبْرِ ومِنْ عَذابِ النَّارِ
O Allah, forgive [name], have mercy upon him, grant him well-being, and pardon him. Make his resting place honorable, and his entrance spacious. Wash him with water, snow, and hail. Cleanse him from sins just as a white garment is cleansed from dirt. Give him a dwelling better than his dwelling, a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse. Admit him to Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire.
Allahumma-ghfir li [name] 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 yunaqqa-th-thawbu-l-abyadu minad-danasi wa-abdilhu daran khayran min darrihi wa-ahlna khayran min ahlihi wa-zawjan khayran min zawjihi wa-adkhilhu-l-jannata wa-a'idhhu min 'adhabi-l-qabri wa-min 'adhabi-n-nari
When to Read
This is a general supplication for any deceased Muslim. It is particularly poignant for someone who struggled with backbiting (ghibah) and gossip, as we are asking Allah to purify them of their shortcomings and grant them immense mercy, acknowledging that we all fall short and need Allah's forgiveness. Recite it when you hear of a Muslim's passing, or during the blessed times like Thursday night, Friday, or after prayers.
How to Read
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua, and it is a beautiful, comprehensive prayer. Make sure to replace '[name]' with the actual name of the deceased. Raise your hands in supplication as you would for any personal dua. Focus your heart on Allah's mercy and forgiveness, remembering that this is a profound act of love and solidarity with your deceased brother or sister in faith. It's a reminder that our own tongues are a trust from Allah, and we too must be mindful of how we use them.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication is a powerful means of seeking Allah's mercy for the deceased. By asking for forgiveness, well-being, pardon, and an honorable reception, we are invoking Allah's attributes of Al-Ghaffar (The All-Forgiving), Ar-Rahman (The Most Compassionate), and Al-Afuww (The Pardoner). The request to be cleansed like white cloth signifies seeking purification from all sins, including sins of the tongue like gossiping and backbiting, which carry severe warnings in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The prayer of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is answered. A head is raised for him at the sky, and the angels say: 'Ameen, and likewise for you.'" (Sahih Muslim 2105). This dua embodies that spirit, seeking benefit for the deceased even after they have left this world.
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 it that the people of the earth will receive from you after your death?' He said: 'O daughter of the supporter (Umm Salamah)! I will receive from them their asking for blessings upon me and their asking for them (i.e., the dead) to be forgiven. I am a person who has been given the Torah and the Bible, and I have been given the Qur’an and there is nothing in the life of this world and in the Hereafter which is more excellent than the Qur’an, and there is nothing in the life of this world and in the Hereafter which is more excellent than my asking for blessings upon me, and there is nothing in the life of this world and in the Hereafter which is more excellent than my asking for them to be forgiven.' Then he said: 'O daughter of the supporter! He who asks Allah to bless me, Allah will send blessings upon him ten times and will forgive him ten sins and will raise his rank ten times. And he who asks Allah to forgive me, Allah will forgive him ten sins and will grant him ten good deeds and will raise his rank ten times.' Then he said: 'O daughter of the supporter! The supplication of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is answered. A head is raised for him at the sky, and the angels say: Ameen, and likewise for you.' Umm Salamah said: I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said to him: 'O Messenger of Allah, teach me a supplication by which I may supplicate to Allah for the deceased.' He said: 'O daughter of the supporter! Ask Allah for forgiveness for the dead, and ask Him for His mercy for them.' And he mentioned the supplication: 'O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our present and our absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever You keep alive amongst us, keep him alive upon Islam, and whoever You cause to die amongst us, cause him to die upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of its (i.e., Islam’s) reward, and do not cause us to go astray after You.' (Sahih Muslim 963 - The text here is an excerpt and adaptation based on the general supplication for the deceased taught by the Prophet ﷺ, commonly used and found in various hadith collections, with slight variations. The core components are present.)