اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
O Allah, forgive me and my parents, and have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was young.
Allahummaghfir li wa liwalidayya warhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira
When to Read
This is a foundational dua for your parents, especially when you sense they are facing difficulties or feel worried about them. Recite it during your daily prayers, after salah, or any time you remember them and wish them well. It's a continuous act of kindness towards them, even after they may have passed on.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a heartfelt intention for your parents' well-being. Raise your hands if you are reciting it outside of the prescribed prayers, as is customary when making dua. Reflect on the immense sacrifices they made and the love they poured into raising you. Visualize Allah's mercy encompassing them.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful dua encapsulates immense gratitude and supplication for our parents. It acknowledges their lifelong efforts and asks Allah to bestow His mercy upon them, just as they showed mercy in raising us. It’s a beautiful way to fulfill the obligation of honoring parents, which is deeply emphasized in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'When a person dies, all their deeds end except for three: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them.' (Sahih Muslim 1631). This dua is a prime example of a righteous child's prayer for their parents.
Source & Authentication
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "When a person dies, all their deeds end except for three: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them." Sunan Abu Dawud 5128 is a narration of a different hadith about honoring parents: 'The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced! May he be disgraced!" It was asked: 'Who, O Messenger of Allah?' He said: 'The one who sees one or both of his parents, in old age, during his lifetime, and does not enter Paradise (by serving them).' (This hadith from Sahih Muslim 2551, is often used in discussions about honoring parents, highlighting the immense reward in serving them). The specific dua mentioned above, 'Allahummaghfir li wa liwalidayya warhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira,' is a well-established supplication taught for parents and is found in collections like Sunan Abu Dawud.