اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأَحْيَائِنَا وَأَمْوَاتِنَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَحُرِّنَا وَمَمْلُوكِنَا، 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 among us and those who are absent, our males and our females, our young and our old, our free and our owned. 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 go astray after him.
Allahumma ighfir li-ahya-ina wa amwaati-na, wa shahidi-na wa ghaa-ibi-na, wa dhakari-na wa untha-na, wa saghiri-na wa kabiri-na, wa hurri-na wa mamluuki-na. Allahumma man ah-yayta-hu min-na fa-ahyi-hi 'alal-Islam. Wa man tawaffayta-hu min-na fa-tawaffafu 'alal-iman. Allahumma laa tahrim-na ajra-hu, wa laa tudhillana ba'da-hu.
When to Read
This comprehensive supplication is perfect for general use, but it carries special weight when an elder is thinking of loved ones who have passed. It's a beautiful way for them to seek Allah's forgiveness and mercy for the deceased, and to ask for continued guidance and steadfastness for the living.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a humble heart. Imagine the faces of those you miss, and direct your plea to Allah with full reliance on His mercy. It's best recited after prayers, or at any time when one feels a deep connection and remembrance of those who have transitioned to the next life.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encapsulates a profound request for Allah's encompassing mercy. It asks for forgiveness for all, the living and the deceased, acknowledging our interconnectedness. For the elderly, it offers solace by actively remembering and praying for their departed family and friends, while simultaneously seeking continued blessings of faith and steadfastness on Islam for themselves and the community. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this to ensure we never forget our responsibility towards both the living and the departed, and to ask Allah to preserve our faith until our final breath.
Source & Authentication
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When one of you prays over the deceased, and he says: O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those who are present among us and those who are absent, our males and our females, our young and our old, our free and our owned. 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 go astray after him.' Then he said: 'O Allah, grant him forgiveness and mercy, and grant him [the ability to benefit from] the reward of his good deeds, and grant him relief from his burden, and make his dwelling a good dwelling, and grant him a good station. Then he should seek ease for him and ask for his deceased to be forgiven.'