اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا، اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الإِسْلامِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّتْهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الإِيمَانِ، اللَّهُمَّ لاَ تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ وَلاَ تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present among us and those who are 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, 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-ḥayyinā wa mayyitinā, wa shāhidinā wa ghāʾibinā, 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-īmān. Allahumma lā taḥrimnā ajrahu wa lā tuḍillinā baʿdahu.
When to Read
This comprehensive supplication is especially meaningful in the first week after a loved one's passing. It's a time when grief is often raw, and the need to connect with our departed family and friends through prayer is profound. Reciting this dua after any obligatory prayer, or even during personal moments of reflection and remembrance, serves as a powerful way to seek Allah's immense forgiveness and mercy for the deceased, while reaffirming our own commitment to Islam and faith.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a heartfelt presence, remembering the deceased and all Muslims who have passed on. Raise your hands as you would in any supplication, facing the Qiblah if possible. Focus on the meaning of each phrase, truly asking Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) for His boundless mercy. It can be recited individually or collectively, and its beauty lies in its comprehensiveness, covering all categories of people.
Virtues & Benefits
This prayer encapsulates a complete plea for the deceased. By asking for forgiveness for the living and the dead, the present and absent, the young and old, we extend Allah's mercy to all. The prayer for life upon Islam and death upon faith is crucial for our own endings. Most importantly, asking not to be deprived of the deceased's reward and not to be led astray after them is a beautiful way to ensure their legacy continues through righteous remembrance and continued practice of our faith. It’s a reminder that our du'as are a continuous source of benefit for those who have left us.
Source & Authentication
Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say, "When he prayed over a deceased person, he would supplicate: 'O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present among us and those who are 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, cause him to die upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us stray after him.'" (Sunan Abi Dawud 3201, Sunan Ibn Majah 1498. This hadith is considered Hasan).