In Islam, praying for death is not primarily about wishing for life to end. It is about asking Allah for a good ending, spiritual peace, forgiveness, and the ability to meet the Creator with faith and righteous deeds. The awareness of death should inspire purposeful living, moral integrity, repentance, and preparation for the Hereafter.
Everyone will face the inevitability of death. Allah says in surah An Nahl, verse number 96, in translation: “Whatever you have will end, but whatever Allah has is everlasting.” It is all in the will of Allah that our life in this world is limited.
What Does Praying for Death Mean in Islam?
In the realm of Islamic spirituality, there exists a profound concept that has been a cornerstone of faith for billions of Muslims worldwide: praying for death in Islam. This may seem like a paradox, as one might expect the emphasis to be on praying for life and its blessings. However, the act of praying for death, or more specifically, for a good death, reflects the deep-seated belief in the afterlife and the desire to meet one's Creator in a state of peace and righteousness.
The key purpose of praying for death is not about wishing for the end of one's life but rather about yearning for a death that is free from suffering and filled with spiritual peace. Muslims believe that the moment of death is crucial, as it determines one's fate in the hereafter. Therefore, praying for a good death is essentially praying for a good ending to one's life, where one can meet their Lord with a clean heart and righteous deeds.
This concept has practical benefits for everyday life, as it encourages individuals to live each day with purpose and integrity. By constantly reminding themselves of the inevitability of death, Muslims are motivated to pursue good deeds, avoid sinful behavior, and seek forgiveness for past mistakes.
For instance, imagine a person who is faced with a difficult decision that involves choosing between what is right and what is profitable. The awareness of one's own mortality and the desire for a good death can serve as a moral compass, guiding the individual towards the path of truth and righteousness.
Death, Sorrow, and Hope in Islamic Teaching
Perhaps the most difficult challenge any of us are likely to face is the passing of a loved one. After a loved one passes away, it is natural to be overcome with feelings of sorrow, and for some, even a general sense of hopelessness and despair.
While we acknowledge our grief as our own Prophet ﷺ did-losing his uncle Abu Talib, his beloved wife Khadija, and all of his children except for Fatima (rA)-we can take solace in our duty to supplicate for our loved ones. Indeed, our supplications for them after they pass away can directly affect their standing in the next life.
Abu Huraira (rA) narrated that “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said “Verily, Allah Almighty will raise the status of his righteous servant in paradise, and he will say ‘O Lord, what is this?’ Allah will say, ‘This is (due to) your child seeking forgiveness for you.’” (Musnad Aḥmad, no. 10610).
As such, our connection with our loved ones is so profound that we can continue to increase their status even after they begin their journey to the next life. Moreover, not only can we raise their station, but they will be informed that this elevation is due to your supplications for them.
This makes your supplications not just a means of solace for yourself, and aid for them, but also a means of continued communication between you and your loved ones. The worldly deeds of a person come to an end with death, but Allah’s mercy keeps a door open for the ongoing reward.
Seeking Forgiveness for the Deceased
Interestingly, in this narration, the son did not request elevation for his father, but only prayed for his forgiveness. This suggests a special power to istighfar (seeking forgiveness).
The connection between seeking forgiveness and elevation in one’s rank is that forgiveness is not only sought for sins we can recall. This can also be seen in the Prophetic tradition of saying “astaghfirullah” (I seek forgiveness from Allah) three times after every prayer.
Indeed, seeking forgiveness is so important, that almost every supplication we cover here begins with seeking forgiveness. It can be easy to presume that our loved ones are perfect and sin-free, especially when we hold them in high regard.
It is crucial though to always seek forgiveness even for our own sins we are not aware of, and the truth is that we never know all the shortcomings of others. As a rule, we should never presume a person’s standing with Allah and should accept that “every descendant of Adam is a sinner” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, no. 2499).
However, this must also be balanced with maintaining a good opinion of Allah (husn al-dhann), who “is the Most-Merciful, Most-Forgiving” (Qur’an 49:5).
In his collection of Sahih Prophetic narrations, Al-Bukhari opens the Chapter on Funeral Prayers with the narration of Abu Dharr (rA) that the Prophet ﷺ said “Whoever says ‘There is no God but Allah,’ (La ilaha illa Allah) will enter jannah.” Abu Dharr says, “Even if he committed adultery and stole?” The Prophet ﷺ responds, “Even if he committed adultery and stole” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, no. 1237).
Here, Imam Al-Bukhari demonstrates his wisdom by starting this chapter with a narration that reminds us to maintain a positive opinion (husn al-dhann) of Allah. This is not meant to belittle the sin of adultery and theft, but rather to emphasize our strong belief in the power of sincere supplications and Allah’s promise that He will always meet us with mercy and forgiveness.
What to Say Immediately After Someone Dies
When someone dies, the first response taught in the Qur’an is to acknowledge that all people belong to Allah and will return to Him:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return
The evidence from the Quran, in translation: And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return.” Quran 2:156
Condolence for Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One
A person offering condolences can remind the grieving family that what Allah takes and gives belongs to Him, and that every life has an appointed term:
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ ، وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى ، وَكُلٌّ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى، فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ
Inna lillāhi mā akhadh, wa lahū mā aʿaṭā, wa kullun ʿindahū bi-ajali-m-musammā, fal-taṣbir wa-l-taḥtasib.
Indeed to Allah Alone belongs what He took, and to Him Alone belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time; thus, be patient and hope for Allah’s reward.
The evidence from the Sunnah, in translation: Narrated Usama bin Zaid: The daughter of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) sent (a messenger) to the Prophet (ﷺ) requesting him to come as her child was dying (or was gasping), but the Prophet (ﷺ) returned the messenger and told him to convey his greeting to her and say: “Whatever Allah takes is for Him and whatever He gives, is for Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world) and so she should be patient and hope for Allah’s reward.”
Supplication for Deceased Parents
Abu Usayd said, "We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ when a man asked, 'Messenger of Allah, is there any act of dutifulness which I can do for my parents after their death?' He replied, 'Yes, there are four things: Supplication for them, asking forgiveness for them, fulfilling their pledges, and being generous to friends of theirs. You only have ties of kinship through your parents." (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, no. 35, Da’eef)
Based on the Prophet’s Noah’s dua to Allah (71:28) you can say ‘O Allah, forgive me and my parents.”
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ
However, this can also be combined with another du’a from the Qur’an. After commanding us to honor our parents and never say “uff” to them, Allah commands us to pray for them with the following formulation:
وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا
“And be humble with them out of mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Have mercy on them as they raised me when I was young.” (Qur’an 17:24)
Du'a for Both Parents
To pray for both of our deceased parents, and help them to enter Jannah, inshAllah, we can say:
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرا
Rabbi ighfir li wa li-walidayya wa-irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira
O Allah forgive me and my parents, and have mercy on them as they raised me when I was young
Qur’an 17:24
Du'a for the Father
To change the formulation to pray for just your father, you can say:
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدي وارْحَمْهُ كَمَا رَبَّنِي صَغِيرًۭا
Rabbi ighfir li wa li-waalidi wa-irhamhu kama rabbani saghira
O Allah forgive me and my father, and have mercy on him as he raised me when I was young
Du'a for the Mother
Whereas, to pray for just your mother, you can say the following:
رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدتي وارْحَمْهُا كَمَا رَبَّتنِي صَغِيرًۭا
Rabbi ighfir li wa li-waalidati wa-irhamha kama rabbatni saghira
O Allah forgive me and my mother, and have mercy on her as she raised me when I was young
Our parents hold the most important space in our life, before and after leaving this world. There are many prayers for deceased parents in Islam.
When a child makes continuous dua for their dead parents, the rank of the parent increases in Jannah. Through the prayers for deceased parents, Islam makes sure we fulfill our duties to our parents even after their death.
As this is proved from the hadith of the Holy Prophet ﷺ: The Prophet ﷺ said: “A man’s rank in Paradise will be raised, and he will ask, ‘How did I get here?’ It will be said: ‘By your child’s seeking forgiveness for you’” (Sunan Ibn Majah).
The Comprehensive Supplication for a Deceased Muslim
The following supplication is one of the most famous formulations for the deceased and is the one you are most likely to hear when you go to the graveyard. You can say it in the janaza prayer after the third takbir, you can say it at the graveyard, and you can continue to repeat it afterwards, especially in the immediate term after death.
Awf ibn Malik (rA) narrated: I heard the Prophet ﷺ say on the occasion of the death of one of the companions:
اللَّهُمَّ أغْفِر لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَأَكْرِم نُزُلَهُ وَوَسَّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالماءِ والثَلْجِ والبَرَدِ ونقِّهِ من الخَطايا كما يُنَقّى الثوبُ الأَبْيَضُ من الدَّنَسِ
Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu wa'afih wa'fu 'anhu wa akrim nuzulahu wa wasi' mudkhalaahu wa 'ghsilhu bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-baradi wa naqqihi min al-khataya kama yunaqqa al-thawbu al-abyadu min al-danas.
O Allah forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him safety and pardon him and make his reception honorable, expand his grave and cleanse him with water, snow, and hail and purify him from sin like a white robe is purified of dirt.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 963
A fuller form of the supplication includes asking Allah to admit the deceased into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the Fire:
اللَّهُـمَّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـهُ ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـهُ ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـهُ وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَهُ ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمَـاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخَطَـايَا كَمَا نَـقَّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسِ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ دَارًا خَـيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ ، وَأَهْلًا خَـيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِـهِ ، وَزَوْجًا خَـيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّةَ ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَـبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّـارِ
Allāhumma-ghfir lahū wa-rḥamh, waʿāfihī waʿfu ʿanh, wa akrim nuzulahuū wa wassʿi mudkhalah, wa-ghsilhu bi-l-māi’ wa-thalji wa-l-barad, wa naqqihī mina-l-khaṭāyā kamā naqqayta-th-thawba-l-abyaḍa mina-d-danas, wa abdilhu dāran khayra-m-min dārih, wa ahlan khayra-m-min ahlih, wa zawjan khayra-m-min zawjih, wa adkhilhu-l-jannah, wa-aʿidh-hu min ʿadhābi-l-qabri wa ʿadhābi-n-nār.
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him. Protect him and pardon him. Grant him an honourable reception and widen his entrance. Wash him with water, snow and ice, and purify him from sin as a white garment is purified of dirt. Exchange his home for a better home, his family for a better family, and his spouse for a better spouse. Admit him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Hell-Fire.
Supplication for the Living and the Deceased
Another beneficial supplication that can be said for both the deceased and the living is:
اللَّهمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا وَشَاهِدِنَا، وَغَائِبِنَا، وَصَغِيْرِنَا وَكَبِيْرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا. اللَّهمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَه ُُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِه ِِ عَلَى الإِسْلامِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَه ُُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّه ُُ عَلَى الإِيْمَانِ، اللَّهمَّ لا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ، وَلا تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ
Allahumma-ghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina wa shahidina, wa gha'ibina, wa saghirina wa kabirina, wa dhakarina wa unthana. Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi 'ala al-Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fatawaffahu 'ala al-iman. Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu, wa la tudillana ba'dahu.
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whom among us You keep alive, then let such a life be upon Islam, and whom among us You take unto Yourself, then let such a death be upon faith. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us stray after him.
Sunan Ibn Majah, no. 1498
The Supplication for Abu Salama
One of the most famous supplications for the deceased came after the passing away of the companion Abu Salama (rA). The Prophet ﷺ visited his beloved companion as he (rA) was on his deathbed.
Seeing his eyes fixed on one spot, an indication that his soul had left his body, the Prophet closed Abu Salama’s eyes as per the prophetic tradition. Upon this, some of Abu Salama’s family started to wail and weep.
In that moment, the Prophet advised them of the importance of making beneficial supplications, both for ourselves and our loved ones, saying, Do not supplicate for yourself anything unless it is good, for the angels say “Amen” to whatever you say.
He ﷺ then made a beautiful supplication for Abu Salama, which you can repeat for your own loved ones:
اللَّهُمَ اغْفِرْ لأبي سَلَمَة وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي المَهْدِيِّينَ وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيه وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الغَابِرين
Allahumma-ghfir li (insert name) wa arfa' darajatahu fi l-mahdiyyiin, wa afsah lahu fi qabrihi wa nawwir lahu fihi wa akhlufhu fi 'aqibihi fi l-ghabirin.
O Allah forgive (insert name) and raise his rank among those who are rightly guided. Make his grave spacious for him and give him light in it and grant him a successor from his descendants who remain behind.
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, no. 920
In this supplication, we can detect a deliberate sequence. First, we pray for the deceased’s ultimate destination by saying “raise his ranks among the rightly guided.” In recognizing the barzakh as a transitional phase toward their ultimate destination, we then ask Allah to widen their grave and put light in it.
Finally, we conclude the formulation by praying for the continued guidance and piety of the deceased’s descendants as part of their persisting legacy on this earth and a source of reward for them in the afterlife.
Funeral Prayer and Supplication
When you came into this world, you came in with adhan and no salah. When you leave this world, you leave with salah and no adhan. And it's as if to say that your entire life is like the time between adhan and salah.
And subhanAllah, when you were in the womb of your mother, with the same stroke, the angel wrote your date of death and your lifespan. And so as you were coming into this world, you were already on your way out of it. And it is a profound reminder for us to constantly pray until we are prayed upon as we come into the short life and we leave the short life.
Salatul Janazah is a rite of the Muslim upon the Muslim. It is a way of us to bid farewell to our loved ones and to remind ourselves that we too will follow that same path one day. And the wise person is the one that puts their own janazah in front of them and lives their life in accordance with that Salatul Janazah.
Structure of Salatul Janazah
The Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam taught us to pray the janazah with a very unique formula. We go into Salatul Janazah and we read four takbirat.
- After the first takbir, we recite Suratul Fatiha.
- After the second takbir, we recite salawat on the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam.
- After the third takbir, we recite du'a for the deceased.
- After the fourth takbir, you make du'a for yourself, for the ummah, and, if you'd like, you could even continue to make du'a for the deceased.
After the second takbir, we recite salawat on the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam. The way that we would in salah, salah Ibrahimiyya is a preferred way. Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala aali Muhammad kama sallayta ala Ibrahim wa ala aali Ibrahim innaka hameedun majeed until the end of the salawat and the prayer.
And then you do the third takbir and you recite du'a for the deceased. And one of the ways that is legislated from the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam is the du'a, Allahumma khfirli hayyina wa mayyitina wa shahidina wa ghaibina wa saghirina wa kabirina wa dhakrina wa unthana Oh Allah, forgive our living ones, our dead ones, our present ones, our absent ones, our elderly ones, our young ones, our male ones, our female ones.
Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi alal Islam wa man tawafaytahu minna fa tawafahu alal iman Oh Allah, whoever you have decreed to live amongst us, then let them live upon faith. And whoever you have decreed to take from us, then let them die upon faith.
So we make this du'a that the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam taught us to make, and then we make du'a on the deceased in a heartfelt way, in a sincere way, in this short takbir to takbir.
After the fourth takbir, you make du'a for yourself, for the ummah, and if you'd like, you could even continue to make du'a for the deceased, one of the ways that some of the scholars mentioned, Allahumma la tahribna ajrahu wa la tudhillana ba'da Oh Allah, do not forbid us of the reward, and do not let us go astray after him.
And then there is a taslim, either one taslim or two taslims, which we'll talk about inshallah ta'ala in a minute. But I want us to just think about this. Why do we recite what we recite in Salatul Janazah?
Why the Funeral Prayer Has This Form
The scholars mentioned a few reasons. One of them is that if you pay attention, it is basically the salah shortened. The way you begin your salah is with Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen, with the thana and then the surah al-Fatiha. The way you end your salah is with salawat on the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Another thing that the scholars mentioned is that what are the ingredients of an accepted dua? An accepted dua has what? Hamd, praise of Allah Subh'anaHu Wa-Ta-A'la, and then it ends with salawat on the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam.
And so the Salatul Janazah has the perfect formula of dua by assuring that we have praise and that we have prayers upon the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam before we pray upon our loved ones and the ummah as a whole.
So you have that. And that's also why some of the scholars mentioned that there is one taslim according to some of the schools because it is not a complete salah. Now, obviously, if you're praying janazah behind someone, then you will do what they do inshallah. So it's not a problem if they do one taslim or if they do two taslims.
Janazah as a Communal Right
Janazah is a right of the Muslim on the Muslim. This is a community right, okay? And we often don't think of it that way.
The Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam said, the rights of the Muslim upon the Muslim are five. He said SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam to respond to the salam.
The second thing the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam said is visiting the sick. The third thing the Prophet SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam said is following the janazah.
So think of it in light of the previous two that I mentioned that you pray janazah and you bury the person properly, that you attend the janazah and you follow the janazah.
It is a right and it is not something that should be deemed only necessary when someone is significant. Salatul Janazah is fard kifaya. It has to be done by someone. It's a communal obligation, not fard'een, not an obligation upon every individual.
There is a beautiful lesson there that no one should be treated like they're too insignificant for salah or janazah. And especially in a time when you have a lot of janazahs, you see the discrepancy, right?
The one who prays salatul janazah has the reward of uhud in good deeds. And the one who follows the janazah has the reward of two uhud in good deeds. If you've ever seen uhud, it's a huge mountain.
Ibn Abbas SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam when his son passed away, he said, I asked Qurayb to go out and to look to see who gathered for the janazah. And Qurayb came back and said, Alhamdulillah, it's a lot of people.
Ibn Abbas SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam said, I heard the messenger of Allah SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam say that no Muslim dies and 40 people gather to pray janazah on that person, except that Allah would allow them to intercede on their behalf.
So let's try to have large janazahs, sincere janazahs, because no one is insignificant. There is plenty of incentive. And we can be intercessors for our brothers and sisters as we bid them farewell.
How to pray Funeral Prayer | Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem
Supplication at the Graveyard
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged the Muslims to visit the graves of their loved ones as it reminds them of the Hereafter (Sahih Muslim 976). The Prophet ﷺ taught us the dua that we should say when we visit a graveyard.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ والْمُسْلِمِيْنَ ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ بِكُمْ لاَحِقُونَ ، نَسْأَلُ اللهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum ahla-d-diyāri minal-mu’minīna wal-muslimīn, wa innā in shā’a-llahu bikum lāḥiqūn, as’alullāha lanā wa-lakumu-l-ʿāfiyah.
Peace be upon you, O believing and Muslim dwellers of this place. Certainly, Allah willing, we will join you. We ask Allah to grant us and you well-being.
The evidence from the Sunnah, in translation: It was narrated from Sulaiman bin Buraidah that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to teach them, when they went out to the graveyard, to say: Peace be upon you, O inhabitants of the abodes, believers and Muslims, and we will join you soon if Allah wills. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.’”
A Supplication Asking for Mercy
In some of the Prophet’s ﷺ other supplications, we see that he directly mentions and invokes Allah Almighty’s mercy. In our supplications we should mention Allah’s attributes as much as possible, for the Almighty tell us to do so.
He says, “To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them…” (Qur’an 7:180).
اللَّهُمَّ عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ احتَاجَ إِلى رَحْمَتِكَ وأَنْتَ غَنيُّ عَنْ عَذابِهِ, إِنْ كَانَ مُحْسِنا فَزِدْ في حَسَناتِهِ وإنْ كَانَ مُسِيئا فتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ
Allahumma 'abduka wa ibnu amatika ihtaja ila rahmatika wa anta ghaniyyun 'an 'adhabih. 'In kana muhsinan fazid fi hasanatih. Wa 'in kana musi'an fatajaawaz 'anhu.
O Allah this servant and child of a servant of yours is now in need of your mercy and you are not in need of punishing him. If he was pious, then increase his rewards and if he was a transgressor, then overlook [his shortcomings].
Ḥiṣn al-Muslim, no. 159
Supplication for a Deceased Child
Losing a child is one of the deepest pains any human being can experience. Allah’s mercy has guaranteed Paradise for such parents who lose their children. And as Muslims, our religion commands us to offer support for anyone going through such tough time.
There is a dua that the Prophet ﷺ has taught us to do for anyone who loses their child:
“O Allah, make him a predecessor and treasure for his parents, an intercessor whose plea is accepted. O Allah, make his scales (of good deeds) heavy, magnify their reward through him, join him with the righteous believers, place him under the care of Ibrahim, and protect him by Your mercy from the punishment of Hellfire” (Ibn Majah 1490).
Giving Charity on Behalf of the Deceased
One of the most meaningful ways to honour the memory of a loved one who has passed away is by engaging in acts of charity on their behalf. In Islam, this is known as “Sadaqah Jariya,” which translates to “continuous charity” or “ongoing charity.”
It is a profound way to extend the positive impact of a person’s life even after they have left this world. Sadaqah Jariya can take various forms, but its essence lies in the idea that the rewards for these acts of charity continue to benefit the deceased and others in need indefinitely.
Islam encourages us not only to pray for the deceased but also to continue their legacy of goodness. Acts such as giving Sadaqah, planting a tree, teaching Qur’an, or helping the needy in their name can reach them as continuous rewards.
You can even recite Qur’an and pray that its reward be gifted to them. Other than making dua, we can send rewards to our deceased loved ones by giving charity on their behalf.
- Planting a tree
- Supporting someone’s education
- Helping build a mosque
- Feeding the poor
Keep in mind that dua is an act of worship, and like all acts of worship, it should be exclusively directed to Allah.
Speaking to Allah in One’s Own Words
While there is a well-organized sequence of prayers here, it’s important to remember that prayer for your loved ones doesn’t always have to follow a rigid structure. Alongside the prescribed formulations we have provided here, allow yourself the liberty to speak to Allah, the All-Hearing, directly from your heart.
Offer earnest supplications in your own language and truthfulness of heart as though you were the one in desperation and in the most dire need for His divine intervention.
When we channel our pain into prayer, we transform loss into love, sorrow into Sadaqah, and remembrance into reward. When we witness the death of anyone, it is like a gentle reminder for us too. A subtle reminder that this is our destiny, To Him we belong and to Him we shall return.
So, let us keep on sending duas to our deceased loved ones, until we meet them again in the gardens of Jannah!
May Allah bestow His immeasurable mercy on all of our deceased and forgive us and them for our shortcomings.