رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِـَٔادِرَىَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِىَ مُؤْمِنًۭا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ إِلَّآ تَبَارًۭا
My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my home as a believer and the men and women who believe. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.
Rabbighfir lee wa li-waalidayya wa liman dakhala baytiya mu'minanw wa lilmu'mineena walmu'minaat; wa laa tazidiz zaalimeena illaa tabaaraa
When to Read
This profound supplication, taught by Allah to Prophet Nuh (Noah) (peace be upon him), is a timeless prayer. We can and should recite it regularly, especially after prayers, during the last third of the night, or at any time we remember our parents and desire their forgiveness and ease in the Hereafter. It's a powerful way to continue showing kindness and fulfilling our obligations to them even after they have passed.
How to Read
Recite this ayah with sincerity and a humble heart, focusing on the meaning and the immense mercy of Allah. It's best to recite it when you are in a state of purity (wudu) if possible, facing the Qiblah. Raise your hands in supplication as is customary for dua. Remember that consistent, heartfelt dua is more impactful than sporadic, unthinking recitation.
Virtues & Benefits
This ayah encapsulates a comprehensive request for forgiveness, encompassing oneself, parents, believing family members, and all believing men and women. By reciting it, we actively seek Allah's mercy for our parents, hoping for their sins to be forgiven and their standing in the Hereafter to be elevated. It's a direct fulfillment of the Islamic injunction to be good to one's parents, extending that goodness beyond their lifetime through supplication. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned that the deeds of a person continue after their death, and one of those is the dua of a righteous child (Sahih Muslim 1631), making this ayah a vital tool for our parents' well-being in the Hereafter.