285. Dua for the deceased
Dua for the deceased in Arabic
اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ، وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِيْنَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ، وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ، وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ
Dua for the deceased English Transliteration
Alla-humma'gfir lahu (person's name), warfa'a darajatahu fil mahdiyin, wa'khlufhu fi 'aqibihi fil ga-birin, wagfir lana wa lahu ya rabbal' a-lamin, wafsa'ah lahu fi qabrihi, wa nau-wir lahu fihi
Dua for the deceased English Translation
O Allah, forgive him (person's name), raise his degree among those who are rightly guided, grant him a successor in his descendants who remain. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Universe, and make his grave spacious, and grant him light in it.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Abu Salama (RA) (as he died). His eyes were fixedly open. Rasoolullah (ﷺ) closed them, and then said: When the soul is taken away the sight follows it. Some of the people of his family wept and wailed. So he said: Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for angels say "Amen" to what you say. He then said- (The dua is mentioned above)
Hadith about the Dua
Arabic Text
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ الْفَزَارِيُّ، عَنْ خَالِدٍ الْحَذَّاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ قَبِيصَةَ بْنِ ذُؤَيْبٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى أَبِي سَلَمَةَ وَقَدْ شَقَّ بَصَرُهُ فَأَغْمَضَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ الرُّوحَ إِذَا قُبِضَ تَبِعَهُ الْبَصَرُ " . فَضَجَّ نَاسٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَدْعُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمْ إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ فَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ يُؤَمِّنُونَ عَلَى مَا تَقُولُونَ " . ثُمَّ قَالَ " اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لأَبِي سَلَمَةَ وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِينَ وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ . وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ " .
Umm Salama reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon came to Abu Salama (as he died). His eyes were fixedly open. He closed them, and then said: When the soul is taken away the sight follows it. Some of the people of his family wept and wailed. So he said: Do not supplicate for yourselves anything but good, for angels say" Amen" to what you say. He then said: O Allah, forgive Abu Salama, raise his degree among those who are rightly guided, grant him a successor in his descendants who remain. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Universe, and make his grave spacious, and grant him light in it. [Muslim: 920]
Benefits of Dua for the Deceased
This dua for the deceased brings hope and mercy for the one who passed away, asking Allah to forgive, give light in the grave, and raise their place among the guided with Barakah for their family.
- Dua for the deceased asks Allah to forgive and raise the person’s darajat.
- Janazah dua brings light and peace to the grave of the dead muslim.
- Prayer for the dead helps the family get Barakah and Allah’s mercy too.
- Dua for maghfirat makes Allah forgive both the deceased and those who pray.
- Islamic prayer for the dead gives hope for Jannah and rest for the soul.
When to Recite Dua for the Deceased
The dua for the deceased is a gentle prayer asking Allah for Maghfirah, Barakah, and light in the grave, bringing comfort to the hearts of Muslims who remember loved ones and seek forgiveness for them.
- After finishing salatul janazah, recite the dua for the deceased for Allah’s mercy.
- When you visit a graveyard, use this prayer for the dead to ask for light and ease.
- At home after hearing news of someone’s death, make dua for the deceased for Maghfirat.
- During your own salah, remember a loved one and recite the dua for forgiveness of sins.
- On Fridays, pray the dua for a deceased person to ask ya rabbal alamin for Barakah and peace.
How to perform Dua for the Deceased
When someone leaves this world, the dua for the deceased is a way to ask Allah for forgiveness and light for their soul. This islamic prayer for the dead brings comfort to hearts and hope for the person who passed away.
- Stand after janazah prayer and softly recite the dua for the deceased with full yaqeen in Allah.
- Mention the name of the dead person in your dua for maghfirat, asking Allah to forgive their sins.
- Pray for Allah to make their grave wide and fill it with noor, using the words from the janazah dua.
- Ask Allah to raise their rank among the guided and give Barakah to their family left behind.
- Keep making this prayer for the dead, especially after salah and when you visit their grave for more reward.
Summary
The dua for the deceased is a masnoon dua from Sahih Muslim that asks Allah to forgive the dead, raise their rank, and give Barakah in their grave. This dua for the deceased also prays for light in the grave and forgiveness for both the dead and the living, showing the mercy of Allah in Islamic prayers.
Muslims use this janazah dua in funeral prayer and when making dua for maghfirat for someone who passed away. It is a main Islamic prayer for the dead and brings hope for Allah’s Rahmah and peace for the soul. This dua for forgiveness of sins is a big part of condolences in Islam.