اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
O Allah, forgive me and my parents, and have mercy upon them just as they brought me up when I was young.
Allahummaghfirli wa liwalidayya warhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira
When to Read
This is a foundational dua we should make regularly, but especially when our parents are facing difficulties, be it illness, financial hardship, emotional distress, or any form of struggle. Recite it with sincerity whenever you feel concern for their well-being or see them going through tough times.
How to Read
Make this dua with sincerity and a sincere heart. Face the Qibla if possible, raise your hands, and supplicate earnestly. Remember that the intention and the connection with Allah are key. Imagine your parents' faces and the burdens they might be carrying, and ask Allah to alleviate them. This dua can be recited after Salah or at any other time.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses several profound benefits: 1. **Obedience and Kindness:** It directly fulfills the command to be kind to parents (Al-Isra 17:23). 2. **Seeking Forgiveness:** Asking for forgiveness for ourselves and our parents is a means of purifying our deeds and strengthening our bond with them. 3. **Allah's Mercy:** Requesting Allah's mercy for them mirrors the mercy they showed us, reflecting the Islamic principle of 'retribution in kind' for good deeds. 4. **Spiritual Comfort:** Making dua for them brings spiritual comfort not only to them but also to us, knowing we are actively trying to support them through prayer. 5. **Continuous Reward:** The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us that a Muslim's good deeds continue even after death, including the dua of their righteous children (Sahih Muslim 1631).
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When a person dies, all his deeds are cut off except for three: an ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, or a righteous child who prays for him." Another narration states: Narrated Abu Huraira: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "The deeds of the son of Adam are presented to Allah every Thursday night and Friday evening. Then the deeds of the parents are presented to Allah on Friday." (This hadith is mursal and its authenticity is debated, but the principle of praying for parents is established elsewhere and is very strong). The dua mentioned in the entry is a direct supplication for parents derived from the Quranic command and general supplications for mercy and forgiveness. Allah says in the Quran: > **Arabic:** وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا > **Translation:** "And say, 'My Lord, have mercy on them [both] as they did care for me when I was young.'" > **Transliteration:** *Wa qurabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira* > — Al-Isra 17:24