رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
My Lord, forgive me and my parents, and have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.
Rabbighfir li wa li-walidayya warhamhuma kama rabbayani sagheera
When to Read
Recite this dua at any time, but especially when you notice your parents grappling with difficult questions about life, faith, or the hereafter. It's a powerful supplication to make during moments of prayer, after salah, or simply whenever you feel moved to pray for them. Consider reciting it during the blessed times, like the last third of the night or between the adhan and iqamah.
How to Read
Make this dua with sincerity and a heartfelt connection to your parents. Imagine them before you, and supplicate with earnestness. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us the importance of showing kindness and making dua for our parents, both during their lives and after their passing. This dua is a beautiful embodiment of that sentiment, asking Allah to forgive their shortcomings and bestow His mercy upon them, just as they showed you mercy and care in your childhood.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua directly fulfills the command to be good to parents and seek Allah's forgiveness for them. It acknowledges their efforts in raising you and asks for divine mercy upon them, which is a continuous form of sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity) for you. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned that when a person dies, their deeds are cut off, except for three: a continuous charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who supplicates for them. This dua is a powerful way to ensure that your connection and positive impact on your parents continue even after they have left this world. It also invokes Allah's mercy, which is the source of all good and a protection against all evil, helping ease their burdens and doubts.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: an ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, or a righteous child who supplicates for him (or her)." (Sahih Muslim 1631). While this specific dua is a general supplication for parents found in Sahih al-Bukhari, the concept of a righteous child supplicating for their parents is a foundational principle.