Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
The best Du’as for the deceased include seeking Allah’s mercy, forgiveness, and paradise for them. Reciting these authentic prayers from the Quran and Sunnah benefits the deceased and brings comfort to the living.”
Answering your question, we would like to state the following:
The Power of Du’a for the Deceased
Reciting Du`as (supplications) for the deceased is a powerful act of love, mercy, and remembrance. Here are some of the best and most commonly recited Du`as for those who have passed away.
General Du`a for Forgiveness and Mercy
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ
Transliteration:
Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu wa `afihi wa`fu `anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi` mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wanaqqihi minal-khataya kama yunaqqa ath-thawbu al-abyadu mina ad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa adkhilhu al-jannah, wa a‘idhhu min ‘adhabil-qabri wa ‘adhabin-nar.
Meaning:
O Allah, forgive him/her, have mercy on him/her, pardon him/her, and grant him/her safety. Honor his/her arrival, expand his/her entry, and wash him/her with water, snow, and hail. Cleanse him/her of sins as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Grant him/her a home better than his/her home, a family better than his/her family, and a spouse better than his/her spouse. Admit him/her into Paradise and protect him/her from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire. (Muslim)
Du`a for All Deceased Believers
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا.
Transliteration:
Allahumma ighfir lihayyina, wa mayyitina, wa shahidina, wa gha’ibina, wa sagheerina, wa kabeerina, wa dhakarina, wa unthana.
Meaning:
O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. (At-Tirmidhi)
Du`a for Parents Who Have Passed Away
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا.
Transliteration:
Rabb irhamhuma kama rabbayani sagheera.
Meaning:
My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small. (Al-Isra 17:24)
Short Du`a for Mercy and Forgiveness
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَارْحَمْهُمْ.
Transliteration:
Allahumma ighfir lahum war-hamhum.
Meaning:
O Allah, forgive them and have mercy on them.
Du`a for a Child Who Has Passed Away
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْهُ فَرَطًا وَذُخْرًا لِوَالِدَيْهِ، وَشَفِيعًا مُجَابًا.
Transliteration:
Allahumm ij`alhu faratan wa dhukhran liwalidayhi, wa shafi`an mujaban.
Meaning:
O Allah, make this child a forerunner, a source of reward, and an intercessor for his/her parents whose prayers are answered. (Ibn Majah)
See the following fatwas for more context:
- Does Giving Charity on Behalf of Deceased Husband Benefit Him?
- Any Benefit for Sprinkling Water on Graves?
- Dedicating Reward of Good Deeds to the Dead: Permissible?
- What Is the Benefit of Making Duaa for Others?
Almighty Allah knows best.
