Forgiveness
Janazah du'a: forgive him and have mercy on him
These are the opening words of the du'a the Prophet ﷺ recited over the deceased in the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah), recorded in Sahih Muslim. When someone passes away, this is what you ask Allah for on their behalf: forgiveness, mercy, well-being in the grave and pardon for their sins. Say it in the janazah prayer and whenever they come to mind. For a woman, switch to the feminine endings.
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ
Allāhumma-ghfir lahu warḥamhu wa ʿāfihi waʿfu ʿanhu
O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, keep him well and pardon him.
Authenticity: Sahih (authentic), reported by Muslim (963).
Download image to shareWhen to say it
In the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) and any time you supplicate for someone who has passed away. For a woman, say: lahā, warḥamhā, ʿāfihā, waʿfu ʿanhā.
How often
There is no fixed count; recite it in the janazah prayer and whenever you remember the deceased.
Frequently asked
Where does this du'a come from?
It is the beginning of the supplication the Prophet ﷺ made over a dead person in the funeral prayer, narrated by Awf ibn Malik in Sahih Muslim 963. The full narration adds further requests for the deceased's cleansing and shelter.
Can I say it for anyone who died, not just family?
Yes. It is a general du'a for any deceased Muslim, said in the janazah prayer or on your own, and supplication for the dead is among the deeds that benefit them after death.