7 supplications
Duas for Parents, Spouse and Children
The prophets prayed for their parents and their offspring, and the Qur’an preserves their words so that we can say them too.
Mercy for the parents
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Rabbirhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.
My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.
Source: Qur’an 17:24
Forgiveness for the parents
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbanaghfir li wa li-walidayya wa lil-mu’minina yawma yaqumul-hisab.
Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established. The dua of Ibrahim.
Source: Qur’an 14:41
Comfort of the eyes
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyyatina qurrata a‘yunin waj‘alna lil-muttaqina imama.
Our Lord, grant us from our spouses and offspring comfort to our eyes, and make us leaders of the righteous.
Source: Qur’an 25:74
For righteous children
رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاءِ
Rabbi hab li min ladunka dhurriyyatan tayyibah, innaka sami‘ud-du‘a’.
My Lord, grant me from Yourself good offspring; You are the Hearer of supplication. The dua of Zakariyya.
Source: Qur’an 3:38
Keep me and my children praying
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي، رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Rabbij‘alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, rabbana wa taqabbal du‘a’.
My Lord, make me one who establishes the prayer, and from my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Source: Qur’an 14:40
Gratitude for the blessings
رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Rabbi awzi‘ni an ashkura ni‘matakal-lati an‘amta ‘alayya wa ‘ala walidayya wa an a‘mala salihan tardah, wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni minal-muslimin.
My Lord, enable me to be grateful for the favour You have bestowed on me and on my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You, and make my offspring righteous. I have repented to You, and I am among the Muslims.
Source: Qur’an 46:15
Congratulating newlyweds
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ، وَبَارَكَ عَلَيْكَ، وَجَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ
Barakallahu lak, wa baraka ‘alayk, wa jama‘a baynakuma fi khayr.
May Allah bless you, shower His blessings upon you, and join you together in goodness.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi
Honouring parents in life and after death
Allah joins kindness to parents with His worship: “Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be good to your parents” (17:23). The du‘a “My Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small” teaches the child to remember their care at the moment they need his.
After their death, the child’s du‘a continues to reach them: “When a person dies his deeds end except for three: an ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him” (Muslim).
Forms of kindness to parents
Kindness to parents includes humility towards them, lowering the voice in their presence, spending on them when they are in need, visiting and calling them, obeying them in what is right and praying for them in the prayer. After their death it includes keeping ties with their friends, carrying out their will, giving charity for them and asking forgiveness for them.
Practical tips
- Say the du‘a for your parents after every prayer.
- Call or visit them regularly, especially when they grow old.
- Speak gently and never say even “uff” to them (17:23).
- Give charity on behalf of deceased parents.
- Teach your children to pray for their grandparents.
Duas for Parents, Spouse and Children: questions and answers
How should I treat parents who are not Muslim?
With kindness and respect: “Keep company with them in this world kindly” (31:15), while not obeying them in disobedience to Allah, and praying for their guidance.