Channeling Grief into Prayers: Duas for Deceased in Islam

Let’s talk about a fear that silently eats most of us; the fear of losing our loved ones. Deep down, all of us fear a time when our loved ones will leave us and return to their Creator. Death is the new beginning, and our loved ones need our prayers just like they did in this life. There are many prayers for deceased in Islam which we can send as a gift to our loved ones who have passed away.

Power of the Prayer for Deceased in Islam

The worldly deeds of a person come to an end with death, but Allah’s mercy keeps a door open for the ongoing reward. Islam has emphasized on prayers for the deceased, so that we seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for the departed souls.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.” (Sahih Muslim 1631)

A Prayer for Every Deceased Person in Islam

Islam beautifully teaches collectiveness, to include every Muslim brother and sister in our prayers. The Prophet ﷺ taught Muslims to say this dua for the deceased in Islam:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُمَا، وَارْحَمْهُمَا، وَعَافِهِمَا، وَاعْفُ عَنْهُمَا، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُمَا، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُمَا، وَاغْسِلْهُمَا بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِمَا مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُمَا دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِمَا، وَأَدْخِلْهُمَا الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُمَا مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ

“O Allah, forgive them, have mercy on them, pardon them, grant them rest, make their resting place honorable, expand their entrance, wash them with water, snow, and ice, cleanse them of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Replace their home with a better home and admit them to Paradise. Protect them from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.”

(Sahih Muslim, 963)

There is another dua from Surah Ibrahim (14:41), one which is for forgiveness of all believing women and men either dead or alive.

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established.”

Dua for Deceased Parents

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. The most comprehensive dua that can be made for them both before and after they leave this world is in the Quran in Surah Al-Isra, (17:24)

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

“My Lord, have mercy upon them as they raised me when I was small.”

Importance of Dua for Deceased Parents

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)

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.

Dua for Deceased Children in Islam

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. And this can be done through the prayers for the deceased in Islam. There is a dua that the Prophet ﷺ has taught us to do for anyone who loses their child.

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ فَرَطًا وَذُخْرًا لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَشَفِيعًا مُجَابًا، اللَّهُمَّ ثَقِّلْ بِهِ مَوَازِينَهُمَا، وَأَعْظِمْ بِهِ أُجُورَهُمَا، وَأَلْحِقْهُ بِصَالِحِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَاجْعَلْهُ فِي كَفَالَةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَقِهِ بِرَحْمَتِكَ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيمِ

"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)

Reflect the Sunnah by Visiting Graves

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 الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَلَاحِقُونَ، نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ

"Peace be upon you, O people of these dwellings, believers and Muslims. May Allah have mercy upon those of us who went ahead and those who follow. Indeed, we are, if Allah wills, to join you. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for you.”

(Sahih Muslim 975)

Final Reflection

The grief we feel upon losing is the wound, and the prayers for the deceased in Islam are the balm that soothes the wound. 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!