رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِأَخِي وَأَدْخِلْنَا فِي رَحْمَتِكَ وَأَنْتَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
My Lord, forgive me and my brother, and admit us into Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of the merciful.
Rabbighfir li wa li-akhi wa adkhilna fi rahmatika wa anta arhamur-rahimin
When to Read
This heartfelt plea is most fitting when we, as Muslims, engage in discussions or build relationships with people of other faiths. It's a reminder to approach such interactions with humility, seeking Allah's forgiveness for any shortcomings and His boundless mercy to guide our words and actions. Recite it before or after such encounters, or whenever the need arises to foster understanding and goodwill, remembering that our ultimate aim is to represent Islam with integrity and compassion.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a humble heart, directing your supplication to Allah alone. Focus on the meaning of the words, acknowledging your own need for forgiveness and Allah's supreme mercy. Visualize the 'brother' not just as a literal sibling, but as a fellow human being with whom you are interacting, extending that plea for mercy to encompass the broader context of inter-religious engagement. Reflect on the importance of mercy in all our dealings.
Virtues & Benefits
While this specific dua was uttered by the Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) in relation to his brother Harun (peace be upon him), its essence resonates deeply with the principles of inter-religious dialogue. It reminds us of the crucial need for forgiveness and mercy in our relationships. By asking Allah to forgive us and include us in His mercy, we are implicitly seeking His guidance to conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to Him, even when engaging with those who hold different beliefs. This cultivates humility, a prerequisite for genuine understanding and effective communication, ensuring our interactions are built on a foundation of compassion rather than confrontation. It prepares our hearts to seek common ground and uphold the best of manners, reflecting the teachings of our faith.
Source & Authentication
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: The two of them (Musa and Harun) said: 'Our Lord, indeed We feared that he [Pharaoh] would persecute us or that he would transgress.' [Allah] said: 'Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both, hearing and seeing.' So go, the two of them, to Pharaoh and say, 'Indeed, we are messengers from the Lord of the worlds, [Saying]: 'Send forth with us the Children of Israel.'' [Musa] said: 'Our Lord, indeed We feared that he [Pharaoh] would accuse us of lying or that he would kill us.' Allah said: 'Fear not. The two of you will not face (a dangerous situation), so go, the two of you, with Our signs; indeed, We are with you, listening. So go to him and say, 'Indeed, we are messengers from your Lord, [so send] with us the Children of Israel and do not torment them. We have come to you with a sign from your Lord. And peace will be upon whoever follows guidance. Indeed, it has been revealed to us that the punishment will be upon whoever denies and turns away.' [Pharaoh] said: 'So who is the Lord of you two, O Moses?' He [Moses] said: 'Our Lord is the one who gave each thing its creation and then guided it.' [Pharaoh] said: 'What is the status of the first generations?' He [Moses] said: 'The knowledge thereof is with my Lord in a record. My Lord does not err and does not forget.' The one who made the earth for you a bed and made for you therein pathways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby various kinds of plants. Eat and graze your livestock. Indeed, in that are signs for those of understanding.' [Pharaoh] said: 'What is the status of the previous generations?' Moses said: 'The knowledge is with my Lord in a Book. My Lord does not err and does not forget.' Then the two of them set out, and they (the two of them) came to Pharaoh and his chiefs, and they said: 'Indeed, we are messengers from the Lord of the worlds.' 'The release of the Children of Israel with us.' He [Pharaoh] said: 'Did we not raise you among us as a child, and you did stay among us for years of your life? And you did your deed, and you were of the ungrateful.' [Moses] said: 'I did it then, while I was of those astray. So I fled from you when I feared you, then my Lord granted me judgement and appointed me as [one of] the messengers. And this is a favor with which you remind me [of] enslaving the Children of Israel.' [Pharaoh] said: 'And what is the Lord of the worlds?' He [Moses] said: 'Lord of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, if you would be certain.' [Pharaoh] said to those around him: 'Do you not hear?' [Moses] said: '[It is] your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.' [Pharaoh] said: 'Indeed, your messenger who was sent to you is [very] mad.' [Moses] said: 'Lord of the east and the west and whatever is between them, if you would only reason.' [Pharaoh] said: 'If you take a god other than me, I will surely make you among the imprisoned.' [Moses] said: 'Even if I brought you something clear?' [Pharaoh] said: 'Then bring it, if you should be among the truthful.' So [Moses] threw his staff, and suddenly it was a snake, appearing and slithering. [Pharaoh] said to the notables around him, 'Indeed, this is a sorcerer of knowledge.' He intended to drive you out of your land by his magic. So what do you instruct?' They said, 'Postpone the matter [of Moses and Aaron] and send heralds to the cities to gather the sorcerers.' When the sorcerers came, Moses said to them: 'Throw down what you will throw.' And when they threw, they deceived the eyes of the people and struck them with terror, and they came with [a display of] great magic. And We inspired to Moses, 'Throw your staff,' and at once it devoured what they were faking. So the truth was confirmed, and what they were doing proved false. And Pharaoh and his people were humiliated. And the magicians prostrated, saying, 'We believe in the Lord of the worlds, the Lord of Moses and Aaron.' [Pharaoh] said: 'You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, he is your leader who taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you in the trunks of palm trees, and you will know which of us has the more severe and more lasting punishment.' They said: 'We will never prefer you over what has come to us of clear proofs. So decree whatever you will decree. You can only decree this life of the world. Indeed, we have believed in our Lord, that He may forgive us our sins and what you compelled us [to do] of magic. And Allah is best and most lasting.' [Pharaoh] said: 'Have you believed in him before I gave you permission? Indeed, he is your chief who taught you magic. So I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and I will crucify you upon the trunks of palm trees; and you will surely know which of us has the more severe [<bos> ] and more enduring punishment.' They said: 'We will never give you preference over clear proofs that have come to us and over He who created us. So decree whatever you will decree. You can only decree [regarding] this worldly life. Indeed, we have believed in our Lord, so forgive us our sins, and [seek forgiveness for] what you compelled us [to do] of magic.'