Invocations for Deceased Parents
الدعاء للوالدين المتوفين
Duas from the Quran and Sunnah to invoke for your parents after their death
Kindness to Parents After Their Death
In Islam, kindness to parents (birr al-walidayn) does not stop at their death. On the contrary, it is after their death that our parents need our invocations the most. Allah says in the Quran:
"And lower for them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: 'Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.'"— Quran 17:24
This verse teaches us the most important invocation for our parents, which we can and should recite regularly, whether our parents are alive or deceased.
How to continue honoring parents after their death?
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) taught us several ways to continue being good to our parents after their death: invocations, charity in their name, maintaining ties with their relatives, and fulfilling their unfulfilled vows and commitments.
Authentic Invocations
Request for mercy (Quranic verse)
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Phonétique
Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira
Traduction
Lord, have mercy on them as they raised me when I was small.
Request for forgiveness (Quranic verse)
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Phonétique
Rabbighfir li wa liwalidayya wa lil-mu'minina yawma yaqumul-hisab
Traduction
Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.
Invocation of Noah (Nuh) for his parents
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ
Phonétique
Rabbighfir li wa liwalidayya wa liman dakhala baytiya mu'minan wa lil-mu'minina wal-mu'minat
Traduction
Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house as a believer, and the believing men and believing women.
Complete invocation for parents
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا، وَعَافِهِمَا وَاعْفُ عَنْهُمَا، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُمَا، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُمَا، وَاغْسِلْهُمَا بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ
Phonétique
Allahumma ighfir liwalidayya warhamhuma, wa 'afihima wa'fu 'anhuma, wa akrim nuzulahuma, wa wassi' mudkhalahuma, waghsilhuma bil-ma'i wath-thalji wal-barad
Traduction
O Allah, forgive my parents and have mercy on them, grant them safety and pardon. Honor their reception, widen their grave, and wash them with water, snow and hail.
Other Ways to Honor Deceased Parents
Sadaqa Jariya
Give continuous charity in their name: dig a well, build a mosque, sponsor an orphan...
Hajj or Umrah
Perform the pilgrimage in their name if they were unable to do so during their lifetime.
Family Ties
Maintain ties with their relatives and friends, visit them and check on them.
Their Commitments
Fulfill the promises and vows they made and were unable to keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught several ways to honor deceased parents: invoke for them and seek their forgiveness, fulfill the promises they made, maintain ties with their relatives, honor their friends, and give charity in their name. Abu Usayd reports that a man asked: "Is there anything left of kindness to my parents after their death?" The Prophet replied: "Yes, pray for them, seek forgiveness for them, fulfill their commitments, maintain family ties, and honor their friends." (Abu Dawud)