03.26.25
Du’as for Those Who Have Passed Away
Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things we face in life, and may leave us feeling overwhelmed with grief, hurt, and confusion.
As such, we can make various du’as for the deceased as a way of comfort for ourselves, and to ask Allah (SWT) to provide our loved ones with ease as they depart this Dunya and begin their journey after death.
At Islamic Relief, we recommend seeking support from a professional if your bereavement has left you feeling unable to cope or if you need someone to talk to.
There are, however, a few du’as for those who have passed away.
Du’a on receiving news of death/loss
In Surah Baqarah, the second chapter of the Qur’an, Allah says that when struck by disaster, you should say:
Inna li-llahi wa Inna ilayhi Raaji’un.
Qur’an | Surah Al Baqarah | 2:156
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return.
Typically, a Muslim would recite this du’a upon hearing the news of someone passing away or when losing something. It’s not just recited as a du’a for the person, but as a reminder to ourselves that we will return to Allah on the day of Judgement.
Du’a at the time of closing the eyes of the deceased
Umm Salama reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to Abu Salama, one of his companions, (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 ”Ameen” to what you say.”
Hadith | Muslim
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 will remain. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Universe, and make his grave spacious, and grant him light in it.” [Hadith | Muslim]
You can recite this particular du’a for your loved one:
Allaahummaghfir li (name of the person) warfa’ darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeena, wakhlufhu fee ‘aqibihi fil-ghaabireena , waghfir-lanaa wa lahu yaa Rabbal-‘aalameena, wafsah lahu fee qabrihi wa nawwir lahu feehi.
Hadith | Muslim 2-634
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفْرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى ، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَّنَّا بُعْدَهُ ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ
O Allah, forgive (name of the person) and elevate his station among those who are guided. Send him along the path of those who came before, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Enlarge for him his grave and shed light upon him in it.
Du’a for the deceased at the time of the funeral
The following du’a is known as the du’a for the deceased at the time of the funeral, although it is a du’a that can be recited at any time for the deceased.
Allāhumma’ghfir lahu warḥamh, wa `āfihi, wa`fu `anh, wa akrim nuzulah, wa wassi` mudkhalah, wagh’silhu bi ‘lmā’i wath-thalji walbarad, wa naqqihi mina ‘l-khaṭāyā kamā naqqaytath-thawba ‘l-abyaḍa minad-danas, wa abdilhu dāran khayran min dārih, wa ahlan khayran min ahlih, wa zawjan khayran min zawjih, wa adkhilhu ‘l-jannah, wa a`idhhu min `adhābi ‘l-qabri [wa `adhābin-nār].
Muslim 3-598
اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـه ، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـه ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـه ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَه ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدْ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخطـايا كَما نَـقّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسْ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ داراً خَـيْراً مِنْ دارِه ، وَأَهْلاً خَـيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِـه ، وَزَوْجَـاً خَـيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّة ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر [وَعَذابِ النّـار]
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him, and enlarge his entrance (to his abode), and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family, and a wife better than his wife. Take him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the punishment of Hell-fire].
Du’a for the deceased during Salatul Janazah (Funeral prayer)
Allahumma abduka wabnu amatika ihtaaja ila rahmatik wa anta ghaniyyun ‘an ‘adhaabih, in kaana muhsinan fazid fee hasanaatih, wa in kaana musee-an, fatajaawaz ‘anhu.
Hadith | Al-Hakim
اللَّهُمَّ عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ احْتَاجَ إِلَى رَحْمَتِكَ، وَأَنْتَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ عَذَابِهِ، إِنْ كَانَ مُحْسِناً فَزِدْ فِي حَسَنَاتِهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُسِيئاً فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ
Oh Allah, this son of a servant of yours is now in need of Your mercy and You are not in need of punishing that person. If he was pious then increase his rewards, and if he was a transgressor then pardon him.
Du’a for the deceased after the burial
Allaahum-maghfir lahu Allaahumma thabbithu
Hadith | Abu Dawud
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ الَّلهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ
O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, strengthen him.
May Allah grant us and our loved ones the highest of Jannahs, Ameen! Explore our du’a hub and find out more about essential du’as here.
