4 supplications
Duas for the Deceased and in Times of Loss
Patience at the first shock of a loss is the true patience (Sahih al-Bukhari). These supplications help the bereaved and benefit the one who has passed away.
At a calamity
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un. Allahumma’jurni fi musibati, wa akhlif li khayran minha.
Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better. Umm Salamah said it when Abu Salamah died, and Allah gave her the Prophet ﷺ as husband.
Source: Sahih Muslim
In the funeral prayer
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ، وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ
Allahummaghfir lahu warhamh, wa ‘afihi wa‘fu ‘anh, wa akrim nuzulah, wa wassi‘ mudkhalah, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqaytath-thawbal-abyada minad-danas.
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, give him well-being and pardon him, honour his resting place, widen his entrance, wash him with water, snow and hail, and cleanse him of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Said after the third takbir; use the feminine forms for a woman.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Offering condolences
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ، وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى، وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى، فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ
Inna lillahi ma akhadh, wa lahu ma a‘ta, wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu bi-ajalin musamma, faltasbir waltahtasib.
To Allah belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed term, so be patient and hope for reward.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim
Visiting the graves
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ، أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ
As-salamu ‘alaykum ahlad-diyari minal-mu’minina wal-muslimin, wa inna in sha’allahu bikum lahiqun, as’alullaha lana wa lakumul-‘afiyah.
Peace be upon you, people of these dwellings, believers and Muslims. We will, if Allah wills, join you. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.
Source: Sahih Muslim
Patience at the time of loss
Umm Salamah narrated that she heard the Prophet ﷺ say that whoever is struck by a calamity and says “To Allah we belong and to Him we return; O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better than it”, Allah gives him better. When her husband Abu Salamah died, she said it, and Allah gave her the Prophet ﷺ himself as husband (Muslim).
Patience is shown “at the first shock” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). Tears are not forbidden: the Prophet ﷺ wept at the death of his son Ibrahim and said, “The eye weeps and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases our Lord” (al-Bukhari). What is forbidden is wailing and words of objection to Allah’s decree.
What benefits the deceased
The deceased benefits, by agreement of the scholars, from the du‘a of the living, from charity given on his behalf, from paying his debts, and from Hajj and Umrah performed for him. The best a family can offer is sincere du‘a and ongoing charity, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “When a person dies his deeds end except for three: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him” (Muslim).
Practical tips
- Say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un” as soon as you hear the news.
- Attend the funeral prayer and, if possible, the burial.
- Send food to the bereaved family for the first days.
- Make du‘a for the deceased by name in your prayers.
- Settle the deceased’s debts quickly, as the Prophet ﷺ urged.
Duas for the Deceased and in Times of Loss: questions and answers
Does reciting Qur’an reach the deceased?
Scholars differ about recitation. All agree that du‘a, charity and paying the deceased’s debts benefit him.
What can I do for a deceased parent?
Pray for them, give charity on their behalf, keep the ties of kinship they kept and honour their friends (Muslim).