اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا، وَلِسَائِرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالْأَمْوَاتِ.
O Allah, forgive me and my parents, and have mercy on them as they brought me up when I was young. And forgive all the believing men and believing women, and the Muslim men and Muslim women, those who are alive among them and those who are dead.
Allahummaghfir li wa liwalidayya warhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira, wa li sa'iril mu'minina wal mu'minat, wal muslimina wal muslimat, al-ahya'i minhum wal amwat.
When to Read
This beautiful dua is perfect for reciting when the family gathers, especially on a blessed day like Friday. It can be recited individually as the family comes together, or collectively, perhaps after praying or before sharing a meal. It sets a tone of gratitude, remembrance, and encompasses all believers, aligning with the spirit of unity that family gatherings foster.
How to Read
The etiquette of reciting this dua includes facing the Qiblah if possible, raising your hands (as is customary for many duas), and reciting with sincerity and a hopeful heart. It's a comprehensive supplication asking for Allah's forgiveness and mercy for oneself, parents, and the entire Ummah, both living and deceased. Focus on the meaning of each word as you recite.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua carries immense blessings. It honors parents and seeks Allah's mercy for them, a command and a virtue deeply emphasized in Islam. Furthermore, it extends the prayer to include all believing and Muslim men and women, living and dead, embodying the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ emphasis on brotherhood and the expansive nature of seeking goodness for others. This selfless inclusion is a source of great reward, as the Prophet ﷺ taught that a Muslim’s supplication for his absent brother is readily accepted by Allah, and an angel is assigned to respond 'Ameen, and may you have the like of it.' (Sahih Muslim 2104).
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who supplicates for him.' The narrator then mentioned: 'And he used to supplicate for his parents with this dua: Allahumma-ghfir li wa liwalidayya warhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira (O Allah, forgive me and my parents, and have mercy on them as they brought me up when I was young). And for the believers, the believing men and believing women, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the alive among them and the dead.'