Death

01 · When Difficulties Make You Yearn for Death

اَللّٰهُمَّ أَحْيِنِيْ مَا كَانَتِ الْحَيَاةُ خَيْرًا لِّيْ ، وَتَوَفَّنِيْ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْوَفَاةُ خَيْرًا لِّيْ

Allāhumma aḥyinī mā kānati-l-ḥayātu khayral-lī, wa tawaffanī idhā kānati-l-wafātu khayral-lī.

O Allah, let me live as long as life is better for me; and give me death when death is better for me.

- The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None of you should wish for death because of a difficulty that befalls him. Rather he should say [the above].” (Bukhārī 5671, Muslim 2680)

02 · Encouraging the Dying to Say Shahadah

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ

Lā ilāha illa-llāh.

There is no god but Allah.

- "Abū Saʿīd al-Khuḍrī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Encourage your dying to say [the above].” (Muslim 916) Muʿādh b. Jabal (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “He whose last words are [the above] will enter Paradise.” (Abū Dāwūd 3116)

03 · When Nearing Death #1

اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ، وارْحَمْنِيْ ، وَأَلْحِقْنِيْ بِالرَّفِيْقِ الأَعْلَى

Allāhumma-ghfir lī, wa-rḥamnī, wa alhiqnī bi-r-rafīqi-l-aʿlā.

O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me and join me with the Highest Companion.

- ʿĀisha (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) narrated: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say [the above] as he leaned on me.” (Bukhārī 4440)

04 · After Someone’s Death #1

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ ، وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ ، وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِيْنَ ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ ، وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ ، وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ

Allāhumma-ghfir lah, wa-rfaʿ darajatahū fi-l-mahdiyyīn, wa-khlufhu fi ʿaqibihi fi-l-ghābirīn, wa-ghfir lanā wa lahū yā Rabba-l-ʿālamīn, wa-fsaḥ lahū fi qabrih, wa nawwir lahū fīh.

O Allah, forgive him, raise his rank among those who are guided, and take care of those he leaves behind him. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds; expand his grave for him and illuminate it for him.

- Umm Salamah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhā) said, “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Abū Salamah, and his eyes were open; so he closed them. Then he said, ‘When the soul is taken out, the sight follows it.’ Some people from his family wept and wailed, so he ﷺ said, ‘Do not make duʿā’ for yourselves except for good, for the angels say āmīn to what you say.’ Then he ﷺ said [the above].” (Muslim 920)

05 · After Someone's Death #2

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَلَهُ وَأَعْقِبْنِي مِنْهُ عُقْبَي حَسَنَةً

Allāhumma-ghfir lī wa lahu wa aʿaqibnī minhu ʿuqbā ḥasantan.

O Allah, forgive me and him, and give me good after him.

- Umm Salamah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhā) reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘If you are with a sick person or a person in the agony of death then speak [only] good, for the angels say āmīn to what you say.’ When Abū Salamah passed away I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, Abū Salamah has passed away.’ He said: ‘Say [the above].’ I say that Allah gave me better than him: Muhammad.” (Muslim 919)

06 · After Someone's Death #3

إنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أْجُرْنِْي فِيْ مُصِيْبَتِيْ ، وَأَخْلِفْ لِيْ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا

Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn, Allāhumma-‘jurnī fī muṣībatī, wa akhlif lī khayram-minhā.

Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we will return. O Allah, recompense me for my affliction and replace it for me with something better.

07 · Condolence to the Bereaved

إِنَّ لِلّٰهِ مَا أَخَذَ ، وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى ، وَكُلٌّ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى، فَلْتَصْبِرْ وَلْتَحْتَسِبْ

Inna lillāhi mā akhadh, wa lahū mā aʿaṭā, wa kullun ʿindahū bi-ajali-m-musammā, fal-taṣbir wa-l-taḥtasib.

Indeed to Allah Alone belongs what He took, and to Him Alone belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time; thus, be patient and hope for Allah’s reward.

- Usāmah b. Zayd (raḍiy Allāhū ʿanhu) said, “A daughter of the Prophet ﷺ sent for him saying that my child is in his final moments so please come to us. He responded by conveying salām to her and saying [the above]. She sent for him again, taking an oath that he should come. The Prophet ﷺ got up, and so did Saʿd b. ʿUbādah, Muʿādh b. Jabal, Ubayy b. Kaʿb, Zayd b. Thābit and some other men (raḍiy Allāhū ʿanhum). The child was brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he was making a gurgling sound (the death rattle) [the sub-narrator thinks that Usāmah added: as though it was a leather water-skin.] Upon this, the eyes of the Prophet ﷺ started shedding tears. Saʿd asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! What is this?’ He replied, ‘It is mercy which Allah has placed in the hearts of His servants; and Allah is Merciful only to those of His servants who are merciful (to others).’” (Bukhārī 1284)

08 · Supplication for the Deceased During the Janazah Prayer #1

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ ، وَارْحَمْـهُ ، وَعَافِهِ ، وَاعْفُ عَنْـهُ ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـهُ ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَهُ ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمَـاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخَطَـايَا كَمَا نَـقَّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسِ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ دَارًا خَـيْرًا مِّنْ دَارِهِ ، وَأَهْلًا خَـيْرًا مِّنْ أَهْلِـهِ ، وَزَوْجًا خَـيْرًا مِّنْ زَوْجِهِ ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّةَ ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَـبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّـارِ

Allāhumma-ghfir lah, wa-rḥamh, waʿāfih, waʿfu ʿanh, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassʿi mudkhalah, wa-ghsilhu bi-l-māi’ wa-th-thalji wa-l-barad, wa naqqihī mina-l-khaṭāyā kamā naqqayta-th-thawba-l-abyaḍa mina-d-danas, wa abdilhu dāran khayra-m-min dārih, wa ahlan khayra-m-min ahlih, wa zawjan khayra-m-min zawjih, wa adkhilhu-l-jannah, wa-aʿidh-hu min ʿadhābi-l-qabri wa ʿadhābi-n-nār.

O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him. Grant him well-being and pardon him. Grant him an honourable reception and widen his entrance. Wash him with water, snow and ice, and purify him from sin as a white garment is purified of dirt. Exchange his home for a better home, his family for a better family, and his wife for a better wife. Admit him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Hell-Fire.

- ʿAwf b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) reported: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed the janāzah (funeral) prayer, and I memorised [the above] supplication which he said — and I wished I was the deceased person (i.e. so that I could be the recipient of the Prophet’s incredible duʿā’).” (Muslim 963)

09 · Supplication for the Deceased During the Janazah Prayer #2

اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا ، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا ، وَصَغِيْرِنَا وَكَبِيْرِنَا ، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا ، اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِيْمَانِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تَحْرِمْنَا أَجْرَهُ ، وَلَا تُضِلَّنَا بَعْدَهُ

Allāhumma-ghfir li-ḥayyinā wa mayyitinā, wa shāhidinā wa ghā-ibinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā, wa dhakarinā wa unthānā, Allāhumma man aḥyaytahū minnā fa-ahyihī ʿala-l-Islām, wa man tawaffaytahū minnā fa-tawaffahū ʿala-l-īmān, Allāhumma lā taḥrimnā ajrah, wa lā tuḍillanā baʿdah.

O Allah, forgive those of us who are alive and those who are dead, those present and those absent, the young and the old, the males and females. O Allah, whom amongst us You keep alive, make him live according to Islam; and whom amongst us You give death to, let him die with firm belief (īmān). O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward, and do not lead us astray after his death.

- Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ṣalāh on the deceased and recited [the above]. (Composite: Abū Dāwūd 3201, Tirmidhī 1024 )

10 · Supplication for the Deceased During the Janazah Prayer #3

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّ فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ فِي ذِمَّتِكَ وَحَبْلِ جِوَارِكَ ، فَقِهِ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ ، وَأَنْتَ أَهْلُ الْوَفَاءِ وَالْحَقِّ ، فَاغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ‏

Allāhumma inna fulāna-bna fulānin fi ẓimmatika wa ḥabli jiwārika, faqihi min fitnati-l-qabri wa ʿadhābi-n-nār, wa Anta Ahlu-l-Wafā’i wa-l-Ḥaqq, fa-ghfir lahu wa-rḥamhu, innaka Anta-l-Gafūru-r-Raḥim.

O Allah, So-and-so the son of So-and-so is in Your care and within the rope of Your protection, so save him from the trials of the grave and the punishment of the Hell-Fire. All faithfulness and praise are due to You. O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him

- Wāthilah b.al-Asqaʿ (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) related: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed with us for one of the Muslims and I heard him saying [the above].” (Ibn Mājah 1499)

11 · Supplication for the Deceased During the Janazah Prayer #4

اَللّٰهُمَّ أنْتَ رَبُّهَا ، وَأَنْتَ خَلَقْتَهَا ، وَأَنْتَ هَدَيْتَهَا لِلْإِسْلَامِ ، وَأَنْتَ قَبَضْتَ رُوْحَهَا ، وَأَنْتَ أعْلَمُ بِسِرِّهَا وَعَلَانِيَتِهَا ، جِئْنَا شُفَعَاءَ ، فَاغْفِرْ لَهُ

Allāhumma Anta Rabbuha, wa Anta khlaqtahā, wa Anta hadaytaha li-l-Islām, wa Anta qabaḍta rūḥahā, wa Anta Aʿlamu bi-sirrihā wa ʿalāniyatihā, ji’nā shufaʿā; fa-ghfir lahu.

O Allah, You are its Lord and You created it, You guided it to Islam, You take away its soul, and You know its secrets and what is known about it. We have come as intercessors, so forgive him.

- A person asked Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu): “Did you hear how the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to supplicate in the Janāzah (funeral) ṣalāh?” Abū Hurayrah (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 3200)

12 · When Visiting a Graveyard #1

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ والْمُسْلِمِيْنَ ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُوْنَ ، نَسْأَلُ اللّٰهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ

As-salāmu ʿalaykum ahla-d-diyāri minal-mu’minīna wal-muslimīn, wa innā in shā’a-llahu bikum lāḥiqūn, nas’alullāha lanā wa-lakumu-l-ʿāfiyah.

Peace be upon you, O believing and Muslim inhabitants of this place. Indeed — Allah willing — we will join you. We ask Allah for well-being for us and you.

- Buraydah (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrated: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to teach them, when they went out to the graveyard, to say [the above].” (Ibn Mājah 1547) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Visit the graves, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.” (Ibn Mājah 1569, Aḥmad 1235)

13 · When Visiting a Graveyard #2

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْقُبُورِ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏يَغْفِرُ اللّٰهُ لَنَا وَلَكُمْ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏أَنْتُمْ سَلَفُنَا وَنَحْنُ بِالْأَثَرِ

As-salāmu ʿalaykum yā ahla-l-qubūr, yaghfiru-llāhu lanā wa lakum, antum salafunā wa naḥnu bi-l-athar.

Peace be upon you, O dwellers of the grave! May Allah forgive us and you; you are our predecessors and we are to follow you.

- Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed by the graves of Madinah, and he turned his face towards them and said [the above]. (Tirmidhī 1053)

14 · When Placing the Deceased Inside the Grave

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَعَلَى سُنَّةِ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ

Bismillāhi wa ʿalā sunnati rasūli-llah.

In the name of Allah and according to the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.

- Ibn ʿUmar (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ laid the dead in the grave, he said [the above]. (Abū Dāwūd 3213)

15 · When Nearing Death #2

، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ

Lā ilāha illallāh, wa Allāhu akbar, lā ilāha illa-llāh, waḥdah, lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahū lā sharīka lahū, lā ilāha illallāh, lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-ḥamdu, lā ilāha illallāh, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.

There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, there is none worthy of worship except for Allah, alone, there is none worthy of worship except for Allah, alone, without any partner, there is none worthy of worship except for Allah, to Him belongs all that exists, and to Him is all praise, there is none worthy of worship except for Allah, there is no power in averting evil, or strength in attaining good except through Allah.

16 · Supplication for the Deceased During the Janazah Prayer #5

اَللّٰهُمَّ عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ احْتَاجَ إِلَى رَحْمَتِكَ ، وَأَنْتَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ عَذَابِهِ ، إِنْ كَانَ مُحْسِنًا فَزِدْ فِيْ حَسَنَاتِهِ ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُسِيْئًا فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ

Allāhumma ʿabduka wa-bnu amatika ihtāja ilā raḥmatik, wa Anta Ghaniyyun ʿan ʿadhābih, in kāna muḥsinan fa-zid fī ḥasanātih, wa in kāna musī’an fa-tajāwaz ʿanhu.

O Allah, Your slave and the son of Your female slave needs Your mercy. You are not in need to punish him. If he was good, then increase him in good. If he was bad then overlook his bad deeds.

- Yazīd b. Abdullāh b. Rukānah b. al-Muṭṭalib (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood up to perform Salah for the deceased, he would say [the above]. (Hākim 1328, Ṭabarāni in Muʿjam al-Kabīr 647)