Dua For The Deceased | In the sacred journey of life, sometimes we are called upon to tread the path of loss. Dealing with the departure of a loved one is undeniably challenging. Yet, it is in these difficult moments that we are given the blessed opportunity to remember our Creator and to seek comfort and solace through His divine guidance.
In the following, we share dua (supplications) to recite for the dearly departed. May Allah s.w.t. grant ease to their souls and deliver them into Merciful hands in the Hereafter.
Comprehensive Duʿāʾs for the Deceased: From Qur’an and Sunnah
1. Istirjāʿ (The Statement of Return to Allah)
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Transliteration: Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn
Translation: Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.
[Qur’an – Sūrat al-Baqarah (2): 156]
Context:
This verse is recited when a believer hears about the death of someone, or when faced with any calamity. It expresses surrender to Allah’s will and recognition of the temporary nature of life. According to the next verse (2:157), those who say this receive blessings, mercy, and guidance.
2. Duʿāʾ for Forgiveness at the Grave
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِـ[فُلَان] بِقَدْرِ حَاجَتِهِ، وَاغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِجَمِيعِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، آمِينَ
Transliteration: Allāhumma ighfir li [fulān] bi-qadri ḥājatihī/ḥājatihā, wa ighfir lī wa li-wālidayya wa li-jamīʿil-muslimīn wal-muslimāt. Āmīn.
Translation: O Allah, forgive [name of deceased] to the extent of his/her need, and forgive me, my parents, and all Muslim men and women. Āmīn.
Context:
Though not found in a specific hadith, this duʿāʾ is consistent with the general Islamic practice of making comprehensive duʿāʾs for the deceased and the entire Ummah, as recommended by scholars.
3. Duʿāʾ When the Soul Departs (Morning or Evening)
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْبَحَ عَبْدُكَ (أَوْ أَمْسَى) قَدْ تَخَلَّى مِنَ الدُّنْيَا، وَتَرَكَهَا لِأَهْلِهَا، وَافْتَقَرَ إِلَيْكَ، وَاسْتَغْنَيْتَ عَنْهُ، وَكَانَ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُكَ وَرَسُولُكَ، فَاغْفِرْ لَهُ وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ
Transliteration: Allāhumma aṣbaḥa (or amsā) ʿabduka qad takhallā mina al-dunyā, wa tarakahā li-ahlihā, wa iftaqara ilayk, wa istaghnayta ʿanhu, wa kāna yashhadu an lā ilāha illā anta wa anna Muḥammadan ʿabduka wa rasūluka, faghfir lahu wa tajāwaz ʿanhu.
Translation: O Allah, this morning (or evening) Your servant has departed this world and left it to its people. He is in need of You, and You are free of need from him. He bore witness that there is no deity but You and that Muḥammad is Your servant and messenger — so forgive him and pardon him.
Source: This duʿāʾ is reported in Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān (3024), part of the narrated duʿāʾs during death and burial rituals.
4. Duʿāʾ for Steadfastness During Grave Questioning
اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ عِندَ السُّؤَالِ
Transliteration: Allāhumma thabbit-hu ʿinda as-suʾāl
Translation: O Allah, make him firm at the time of questioning.
Context:
This short duʿāʾ is derived from the Sunnah, reflecting the Prophet’s ﷺ prayer for the deceased after burial. It corresponds with the fitnah (trial) of the grave.
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 3221 – Ṣaḥīḥ]
5. Duʿāʾ for Mercy and Forgiveness
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِـ[فُلَان] وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ
Transliteration: Allāhumma aghfir li [name] warḥamhū, wa ʿāfihi wa ʿfu ʿanhu
Translation: O Allah, forgive [name], have mercy on him, grant him well-being, and pardon him.
Context:
This concise duʿāʾ is part of many authentic supplications used during Janāzah prayer and post-burial.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 963]
6. Duʿāʾ for Jannat al-Firdaws
اللَّهُمَّ أَدْخِلْهُ اجَنَّةَ الْفِرْدَوْس
Transliteration: Allāhumma adkhilhu Jannat al-Firdaws
Translation: O Allah, admit him into the highest Paradise (al-Firdaws).
Context:
This duʿāʾ is based on multiple Prophetic invocations asking Allah for the highest rank of Jannah. It is permissible to ask for this on behalf of others as an act of hope and love.
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 2790]
7. Comprehensive Duʿāʾ for the Deceased (From Janāzah Prayer)
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ
Transliteration: Allāhumma aghfir lahu warḥamhū, wa ʿāfihi wa ʿfu ʿanhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassiʿ mudkhalahu, wagh-silhu bil-māʾ, wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi min al-khaṭāyā kamā yunaqqā ath-thawb al-abyaḍ min ad-danas…
Translation: O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him. Honor his place of rest, expand his entrance, wash him with water, snow, and ice. Cleanse him from sin as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Replace his home with a better home, his family with a better family, his spouse with a better spouse. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the torment of the grave and the Fire.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 963]
Context:
This duʿāʾ is the most comprehensive supplication recited in Ṣalāt al-Janāzah, covering forgiveness, reward, purification, and entry into Paradise.
8. Duʿāʾ to Avoid Misguidance After Someone’s Death
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبُّنَا وَرَبُّهُ، خَلَقْتَهُ وَرَزَقْتَهُ، أَحْيَيْتَهُ وَكَفَيْتَهُ، فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ، وَلَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ، وَلَا تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ
Transliteration: Allāhumma anta rabbunā wa rabbuh, khalaqtahu wa razaqtahu, aḥyaytahu wa kafaytahu, faghfir lanā walah, wa lā taḥrimnā ajrah, wa lā tuḍillanā baʿdah
Translation: O Allah, You are our Lord and his Lord. You created and provided for him, gave him life and protected him. Forgive us and him, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not misguide us after him.
Source: Based on authentic invocations found in the collections of Imām Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah, used at funerals or mourning periods.
9. Duʿāʾ for General Maghfira (Forgiveness) for All Believers
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأَحْيَائِنَا وَأَمْوَاتِنَا، وَذُكْرَانِنَا وَإِنَاثِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَمَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ
Transliteration: Allāhumma aghfir li-aḥyāʾinā wa amwātinā, wa dhukrāninā wa ināthinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā…
Translation: O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our males and females, our young and old. Whoever You keep alive among us, let them live in faith, and whoever You cause to die among us, let them die upon Islam.
[Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 3201 – Ṣaḥīḥ]
10. Duʿāʾ Seeking the Company of the Prophet ﷺ in the Hereafter
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، وَأَوْرِدْهُ حَوْضَ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ
Transliteration: Allāhumma ighfir lahu wa awridhu ḥawḍa nabiyyika ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam
Translation: O Allah, forgive him, and allow him to reach the Pool of Your Prophet, peace be upon him.
Context:
This duʿāʾ is a heartfelt prayer hoping that the deceased will meet the Prophet ﷺ at al-Ḥawḍ (the Prophet’s cistern) in the Hereafter — a special station of honor.
Each is distinct, not a repetition, and includes theological or historical context for deeper understanding.
11. Duʿāʾ for Protection from the Trial of the Grave and Hellfire
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّ فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ فِي ذِمَّتِكَ وَحَبْلِ جِوَارِكَ، فَقِهِ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْقَبْرِ، وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ، وَأَنْتَ أَهْلُ الْوَفَاءِ وَالْحَقِّ، فَاغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma inna fulāna bna fulān fī dhimmatika wa ḥabli jawārika, faqihī min fitnati al-qabri wa ʿadhābi an-nār, wa anta ahlu al-wafā’i wa al-ḥaqq, faghfir lahu warḥamh, innaka anta al-Ghafūru ar-Raḥīm.
Translation:
O Allah, indeed [Name] is under Your protection and in the rope of Your covenant. So protect him from the trial of the grave and the punishment of the Fire. You are the One worthy of fulfilling promises and truth. Forgive him and have mercy on him. Indeed, You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Source:
[Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, 2960 | Ṣaḥīḥ – Authenticated by al-Albānī]
Context:
This duʿāʾ is part of the Janāzah prayer or post-burial supplication. It’s a plea for security in the grave — a period of testing for every soul.
12. Duʿāʾ for the Deceased and Their Family
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِـ[فُلَان]، وَأَلْهِمْ أَهْلَهُ الصَّبْرَ وَالسُّلْوَانَ، وَارْزُقْهُمُ الرِّضَا بِقَضَائِكَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma aghfir li [fulān], wa alhim ahlihi aṣ-ṣabra wa as-sulwān, warzuqhum ar-riḍā bi-qaḍā’ik.
Translation:
O Allah, forgive [Name], inspire his family with patience and comfort, and grant them acceptance of Your decree.
Source:
General duʿāʾ based on Prophetic principles of patience and acceptance. Supported by the hadith:
“Verily, patience is at the first stroke of the calamity.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1302]
Context:
This duʿāʾ helps survivors cope with grief and is particularly appropriate during condolences.
13. Duʿāʾ for Entering the Deceased into Light and Comfort
اللَّهُمَّ نَوِّرْ قَبْرَهُ، وَاجْعَلْهُ رَوْضَةً مِنْ رِيَاضِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَلَا تَجْعَلْهُ حُفْرَةً مِنْ حُفَرِ النَّارِ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma nawwir qabrahu, wajʿalhu rawḍatan min riyāḍ al-jannah, wa lā tajʿalhu ḥufratan min ḥufar an-nār.
Translation:
O Allah, illuminate his grave and make it a garden from the gardens of Paradise, and do not make it a pit from the pits of the Fire.
Source:
Concept derived from the hadith:
“The grave is either a garden from the gardens of Paradise or a pit from the pits of Hell.”
[Musnad Aḥmad, 18001 | Ḥasan]
14. Duʿāʾ for Good Company in the Hereafter
اللَّهُمَّ اجْمَعْهُ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ijmaʿhu maʿa alladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim mina an-nabiyyīn wa aṣ-ṣiddīqīn wa ash-shuhadā’ wa aṣ-ṣāliḥīn.
Translation:
O Allah, gather him with those upon whom You have bestowed Your favor — the Prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.
Source:
Based on Qur’ān:
وَحَسُنَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ رَفِيقًۭا
“And excellent are those as companions.”
[Sūrat an-Nisāʾ (4): 69]
15. Duʿāʾ for Peaceful Death and Resurrection
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ مَوْتَهُ رَاحَةً لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ، وَاجْعَلْ بَعْثَهُ يَوْمَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ فِي أَمْنٍ وَسَلَامٍ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ajʿal mawtahu rāḥatan lahu min kulli sharr, wa ajʿal baʿthahu yawma taqūmu as-sāʿah fī amnin wa salām.
Translation:
O Allah, make his death a relief from every evil, and make his resurrection on the Day of Judgment in safety and peace.
Context:
The Prophet ﷺ would often ask for peaceful resurrection (see Duʿāʾs in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ibn al-Qayyim’s al-Wābil aṣ-Ṣayyib).
16. Duʿāʾ for Elevation in Ranks in Jannah
اللَّهُمَّ ارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْعَلِّيِّينَ، وَاجْزِهِ بِالْإِحْسَانِ إِحْسَانًا، وَبِالسَّيِّئَاتِ عَفْوًا وَغُفْرَانًا
Transliteration:
Allāhumma irfaʿ darajatahu fī al-ʿilliyyīn, wajzihi bil-iḥsāni iḥsānan, wa bis-sayyi’āti ʿafwan wa ghufrānan.
Translation:
O Allah, elevate his rank in the highest ranks, reward his good with more good, and overlook and forgive his faults.
Context:
In line with general Prophetic guidance for praying for the dead. The concept of ʿIlliyyīn is mentioned in [Sūrat al-Muṭaffifīn (83): 18–21].
18. Duʿāʾ for Acceptance of Their Righteous Deeds
اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ صَالِحَ أَعْمَالِهِ، وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْ تَقْصِيرِهِ، وَثَبِّتْهُ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ
Transliteration:
Allāhumma taqabbal ṣāliḥa aʿmālihi, wa tajāwaz ʿan taqṣīrih, wa thabbit-hu ʿala aṣ-ṣirāṭ.
Translation:
O Allah, accept his righteous deeds, pardon his shortcomings, and keep him firm upon the Path.
Context:
Duʿāʾs asking for stability on the Ṣirāṭ bridge (over Hellfire) are mentioned in many narrations about the Akhirah.
19. Duʿāʾ for Their Place in al-Barzakh (life of the grave)
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْ بَرْزَخَهُ نُورًا، وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِيهِ وَحْشَةً وَلَا ضِيقًا
Transliteration:
Allāhumma ajʿal barzakahu nūran, wa lā tajʿal fīhi waḥshatan wa lā dīqan.
Translation:
O Allah, make his intermediate life (Barzakh) full of light, and do not make it a place of loneliness or constriction.
Context:
Derived from duʿāʾs of the early righteous, expressing hope that the grave would be a transition of light, not terror.
Through the mercy of Allah ﷻ and the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, Islam gives us practical and spiritual tools to continue benefitting our loved ones even after death. These duʿāʾs are more than words — they are acts of devotion, powerful expressions of love, and hopeful bridges between this world and the next.
Let us recite them often, with presence of heart, trusting in Allah’s vast mercy and believing that our supplications reach and benefit those we’ve lost.
Grief weighs heavily on our hearts, yet we find solace and compassion in these words of prayer. May they serve as a balm to soothe your distress. Remember, our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught us that patience is at the first stroke of calamity.
Let us remain patient and trust in the divine wisdom of Allah s.w.t, for truly, with every hardship comes ease (Quran 94:6).
In our grief, we find a means of expressing our faith and seeking solace from our Creator. May our mutual consolation serve as a sturdy sail guiding us all towards the shore of peace in this stormy voyage called life. We learn from these challenges, as they afford us the opportunity to witness the constant presence and munificence of Allah s.w.t., even in the face of adversity.