What do you say when someone dies in Islam?

Say 'Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un' (we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return), from Surah al-Baqarah. It is the believer's response to any loss or calamity. You then make du'a for the one who has passed, asking Allah to forgive them and have mercy on them.

What should I say to someone who is dying?

Gently encourage them to say 'la ilaha illa Allah' (there is none worthy of worship but Allah), as the Prophet ﷺ taught, so it may be among their last words. Do not pressure or frighten them; remind them softly, sit with them, and make du'a for ease. The Prophet ﷺ also taught us to speak only good around the dying, for the angels say amin to what is said.

What is the du'a for the deceased in the funeral prayer?

The most complete one taught by the Prophet ﷺ begins 'Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu' (O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him). Several wordings are authentic and are gathered here, including a shorter one and a specific du'a for a child. Any of them fulfils the sunnah.

Can my du'a still help someone after they have died?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ taught that the dead are reached by the du'a of the living, and that a righteous child praying for a parent is among the deeds that continue after death. Asking Allah to forgive them, raise their rank and ease their grave is one of the most loving things you can still do for them.

What do you say when visiting a grave?

The Prophet ﷺ taught us to greet the people of the graves with peace: 'Assalamu alaykum, people of this abode, from the believers and the Muslims...' It is a greeting and a du'a at once, and a reminder that we will one day join them. Visiting graves is encouraged because it softens the heart and reminds us of the hereafter.

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Dhikr & Du'a · Through the day

Death & Grief

أذكار الموت والعزاء

What to say when someone is dying, when they pass, and after

These are arranged in the order grief tends to move: words for the one who is dying, then the moment of death, then the funeral prayer, burial, condolence, and visiting the grave. Find where you are, and start there.

Some of these du'as name the person; where you see [name], say their name in your heart or aloud. The Arabic is masculine in form, but every one of them is said for a woman just the same. And if all you can manage right now is 'Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un' (we belong to Allah, and to Him we return), that alone is enough. Allah knows what the heart cannot say.

1
The dying person's own prayer
أللّهُـمَّ اغْفِـرْ لي وَارْحَمْـني وَأَلْحِقْـني بِالرَّفـيقِ الأّعْلـى
Allāhumma’ghfir lī warḥamnī wa alḥiqnī bir-rafīqi ‘l-'A`alā.
O Allah, forgive me and have mercy upon me, and join me with the highest companions (in Paradise).
sahihAl-Bukhari7/10, Muslim 4/1893
Among the last words of the Prophet ﷺ. If the one who is dying can still speak, these are beautiful words for them to repeat; the highest companions are the prophets and the righteous in Paradise.
2
What the Prophet ﷺ said as he was dying
جعل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عند موته يدخل يديه في الماء فيمسح بهما وجههُ ويقول : لا إله إلا الله إن للموت لسكرات
As he was dying, the Prophet (ﷺ) dipped his hands in water and wiped his face saying:
There is none worthy of worship but Allah, surely death has agonies.
sahihSahih al-Bukhari (Fath al-Bari 8/144)
In his final moments he dipped his hand in water, wiped his face, and acknowledged that death has its agonies, yet still affirmed there is none worthy of worship but Allah. Even the best of creation found death hard; if it is hard for you or your loved one, you are not failing.
3
Gently reminding the dying to affirm Allah
لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَاللّهُ أَكْبَـر، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وحْـدَهُ، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وحْـدَهُ لا شَريكَ لهُ، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ لهُ المُلكُ ولهُ الحَمْد، لا إلهَ إلاّ اللّهُ وَلا حَـوْلَ وَلا قُـوَّةَ إِلاّ بِالله
Lā ilāha illallāh wallāhu Akbar, lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdah, lā ilāha illallāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lā ilāha illallāh lahu ‘l-mulku wa lahu ‘l-ḥamd, lā ilāha illallāh wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Allah is the Most Great. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, His is the dominion and His is the praise. There is none worthy of worship but Allah, there is no power and no might but by Allah.
sahihAt-Tirmidhi 3/152 and Sahih Ibn Majah 2/317
The Prophet ﷺ said: prompt your dying to say 'la ilaha illa Allah'. Remind them softly and without pressure, hoping it will be among their last words; you need not make them repeat it once they have said it.
4
Whoever's last words are these enters Paradise
من كان آخر كلامه "لا إله إلا الله" دخل الجنة
Lā ilāha illallāh
Whoever's last words are 'There is no god but Allah' will enter Paradise.
sahihAbu Dawud 3/190
The Prophet ﷺ promised that whoever's final words in this life are 'la ilaha illa Allah' will enter Paradise. This is why we long for these words at the end, for ourselves and for those we love.
5
When loss strikes: we belong to Allah
إِنّا للهِ وَإِنَا إِلَـيْهِ راجِعـون ، اللهُـمِّ اْجُـرْني في مُصـيبَتي، وَاخْلُـفْ لي خَيْـراً مِنْـها
Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji`ūn, Allāhumma-jurni fī muṣībatī wa 'khluf lī khayran minhā.
O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better than it.
sahihMuslim 2/632
The du'a of the one struck by calamity, from the Qur'an. The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever says it and seeks reward in their affliction, Allah will reward them and replace what was lost with something better.
6
Du'a for the one who has passed
اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لِـفلان وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَـهُ في المَهْـدِييـن ، وَاخْـلُفْـهُ في عَقِـبِهِ في الغابِـرين، وَاغْفِـرْ لَنـا وَلَـهُ يا رَبَّ العـالَمـين، وَافْسَـحْ لَهُ في قَبْـرِهِ وَنَـوِّرْ لَهُ فيه
Allāhumma’ghfir li (name of the person) warfa` darajatahu fi ‘l-mahdiyyīn, wakhlufhu fī `aqibihi fi ‘l-ghābirīn, wagh’fir-lanā wa lahu yā Rabba ‘l-`ālamīn, wafsaḥ lahu fī qabrihi wa nawwir lahu fīh.
O Allah, forgive [name of the person] and elevate his station among those who are guided. Send him along the path of those who came before, and forgive us and him, O Lord of the worlds. Enlarge for him his grave, and shed light upon him in it.
sahihMuslim 2/634
Say their name where indicated. A complete, tender prayer for the deceased: forgiveness, a raised rank, a widened and illuminated grave.
7
The funeral prayer: forgive him and have mercy on him
اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـه ، وَعافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْـه ، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـه ، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَه ، وَاغْسِلْـهُ بِالْمـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدْ ، وَنَقِّـهِ مِنَ الْخطـايا كَما نَـقّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسْ ، وَأَبْـدِلْهُ داراً خَـيْراً مِنْ دارِه ، وَأَهْلاً خَـيْراً مِنْ أَهْلِـه ، وَزَوْجَـاً خَـيْراً مِنْ زَوْجِه ، وَأَدْخِـلْهُ الْجَـنَّة ، وَأَعِـذْهُ مِنْ عَذابِ القَـبْر [وَعَذابِ النّـار]
Allāhumma’ghfir lahu warḥamh, wa `āfihi, wa`fu `anh, wa akrim nuzulah, wa wassi` mudkhalah, wagh’silhu bi ‘lmā'i wath-thalji walbarad, wa naqqihi mina ‘l-khaṭāyā kamā naqqaytath-thawba ‘l-abyaḍa minad-danas, wa abdilhu dāran khayran min dārih, wa ahlan khayran min ahlih, wa zawjan khayran min zawjih, wa adkhilhu ‘l-jannah, wa a`idhhu min `adhābi ‘l-qabri [wa `adhābin-nār].
O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him, and cause his entrance to be wide, and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains. Give him an abode better than his home, and a family better than his family, and a wife better than his wife. Take him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave [and from the punishment of Hell-fire].
sahihMuslim 2/663
The fullest du'a the Prophet ﷺ taught for the deceased in the janazah prayer. Said for a woman, the pronouns simply change; the meaning is the same.
8
The funeral prayer: forgive our living and our dead
اللهُـمِّ اغْفِـرْ لِحَيِّـنا وَمَيِّتِـنا، وَشـاهِدِنا وَغائِبِـنا ، وَصَغيـرِنا وَكَبيـرِنا ، وَذَكَـرِنا وَأُنْثـانا اللهُـمِّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْـتَهُ مِنّا فَأَحْيِـهِ عَلى الإِسْلام ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّـيْتَهُ مِنّا فَتَوَفَّـهُ عَلى الإِيـمان ، اللهُـمِّ لا تَحْـرِمْنـا أَجْـرَه ، وَلا تُضِـلَّنا بَعْـدَه
Allāhumma’ghfir liḥayyinā, wa mayyitinā, wa shāhidinā, wa ghā'ibinā, wa ṣaghīrinā wa kabīrinā, wa dhakarinā wa unthānā. Allāhumma man aḥyaytahu minnā fa aḥyihi `ala ‘l-Islām, wa man tawaffaytahu minnā fatawaffahu `alal-īmān, Allāhumma lā taḥrimnā ajrah wa lā tuḍillanā ba`dah.
O Allah forgive our living and our dead, those who are with us and those who are absent, our young and our old, our menfolk and our womenfolk. O Allah, whomever you give life from among us give him life in Islam, and whomever you take away from us take him away in Faith. O Allah, do not forbid us their reward and do not send us astray after them.
sahihIbn Majah 1/480, Ahmad 2/368
A du'a that gathers the whole community, present and absent, young and old, into one plea for mercy, and asks that we ourselves be kept on faith until we meet Allah.
9
The funeral prayer: under Your protection
اللهُـمِّ إِنَّ فُلانَ بْنَ فُلانٍ في ذِمَّـتِك ، وَحَبْـلِ جِـوارِك ، فَقِـهِ مِنْ فِتْـنَةِ الْقَـبْرِ وَعَذابِ النّـار ، وَأَنْتَ أَهْلُ الْوَفـاءِ وَالْـحَقِّ ، فَاغْفِـرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْـهُ ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الغَـفورُ الـرَّحيم
Allāhumma inna [name the person] fī dhimmatik, wa ḥabli jiwārik, faqihi min fitnati ‘l-qabri wa `adhābin-nār, wa anta ahlu ‘l-wafā'i wa ‘l-ḥaqq. Faghfir lahu warḥamh innaka anta ‘l-Ghafūrur-Raḥīm.
O Allah, surely [name the person] is under Your protection, and in the rope of Your security, so save him from the trial of the grave and from the punishment of the Fire. You fulfill promises and grant rights, so forgive him and have mercy on him. Surely You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
sahihIbn Majah, Abu Dawud 3/211
Placing the deceased in Allah's care and covenant, and asking to be spared the trial of the grave and the Fire.
10
The funeral prayer: in need of Your mercy
اللهُـمِّ عَبْـدُكَ وَابْنُ أَمَـتِك، احْتـاجَ إِلى رَحْمَـتِك، وَأَنْتَ غَنِـيٌّ عَنْ عَذابِـه، إِنْ كانَ مُحْـسِناً فَزِدْ في حَسَـناتِه، وَإِنْ كانَ مُسـيئاً فَتَـجاوَزْ عَنْـه
Allāhumma `abduka wabnu 'amatik iḥtāja ilā raḥmatik, wa anta ghaniyyun `an `adhābih, in kāna muḥsinan fazid fī ḥasanātih, wa in kāna musī'an fatajāwaz `anh.
O Allah, Your male slave and the child of Your female slave is in need of Your mercy, and You are not in need of his torment. If he was pious then increase his rewards and if he was a transgressor then pardon him.
sahihAl-Hakim 1/359 who graded it authentic and Ath-Thahabi agreed with him
A short, humbling du'a: Allah has no need to punish His servant, so we ask Him to increase the good of the righteous and pardon the one who fell short.
11
The funeral prayer for a child
"اللهم أعذه من عذاب القبر " وإن قال: "اللهم اجعله فرطاً وذخراً لوالديه ، وشفيعاً مجاباً اللهم ثقل به موازينها وأعظم به أجورهما ، وألحقهُ بصالح المؤمنين ، واجعلهُ في كفالة إبراهيم ، وقه برحمتك عذاب الجحيم ، وأبدله داراً خيراً من داره ، وأهلاً خيراً من أهله ، اللهم اغفر لاسلافنا ، وأفراطنا ، ومن سبقنا بالإيمان " فحسن
Allāhumma a`idh’hu min `adhābi ‘l-qabr [or say:
O Allah, protect him from the torment of the grave. [It is also good to say:] O Allah, make him a precursor, a forerunner and a treasure for his parents and an answered intercessor. O Allah, make him weigh heavily in their scales (of good) and magnify their reward. Make him join the righteous of the believers. Place him in the care of Ibrahim. Save him by Your mercy from the torment of Hell. Give him a home better than his home, and a family better than his family. O Allah, forgive those who have gone (i.e. passed away) before us, our children lost (by death), and those who have preceded us in Faith.
Ibn Qudamah, Al-Mughni 3/416 and Ad-Duroosul-Muhimmah li-Aammatil-'Ummah, pg
For the loss of a little one. It asks that the child be made a treasure and an awaiting intercessor for the parents, a weight in their scales and a reason for reward, and placed in the care of Ibrahim, who tends the children of the believers in Paradise.
12
A shorter prayer for a child
اللهُـمِّ اجْعَلْـهُ لَنا فَرَطـاً، وَسَلَـفاً وَأَجْـراً
Allāhumma’j`alhu lanā faraṭan, wa salafan, wa ajra.
O Allah, make him for us a precursor, a forerunner and a cause of reward.
hasanAl-Hasan (Al-Basri) used to recite Surat Al-Fatihah for a child's funeral and then say this
Al-Hasan al-Basri would recite al-Fatihah at a child's funeral and then say this brief du'a, asking that the child be sent ahead as a reward and a treasure stored with Allah.
13
Consoling someone who is grieving
"إن لله ما أخذ وله ما أعطى وكل شيء عنده بأجل مُسمى ... فلتصبر ولتحتسب " وإن قال : "أعظم الله أجرك ، وأحسن عزاءك وغفر لميتك" فحسن
Inna lillāhi mā akhadh, wa lahu mā a`tā, wa kullu shay'in `indahu bi ajalin musammā . . . faltaṣbir wa ‘l-taḥtasib . [Also good to say:
Surely, Allah takes what is His, and what He gives is His, and to all things He has appointed a time... so have patience and be rewarded. May Allah magnify your reward, and make perfect your bereavement, and forgive your departed.
sahihAl-Bukhari 2/80, Muslim 2/636
The words the Prophet ﷺ sent to console a grieving family: everything belongs to Allah, who lends and takes back in His wisdom, so be patient and seek reward. The added line is a beautiful way to offer condolences directly.
14
Laying the deceased in the grave
بِسْـمِ اللهِ وَعَلـى سُـنَّةِ رَسـولِ الله
Bismillāh wa `alā sunnati Rasūlillāh.
With the Name of Allah, and according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.
sahihAbu Dawud 3/314 with an authentic chain
Said as the body is placed into the grave: in the name of Allah and upon the way of His Messenger ﷺ.
15
After the burial: asking that they be made firm
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ
Allāhumma’ghfir lah Allāhumma thabbit’h.
O Allah, forgive him. O Allah, strengthen him.
sahihAbu Dawud 3/315, and Al-Hakim 1/370 who graded it authentic and Ath-Thahabi agreed
The Prophet ﷺ would pause after a burial and tell those present to seek forgiveness for their brother and ask that he be made steadfast, for he is now being questioned. A reminder to keep praying even as the soil is settled.
16
Greeting the people of the graves
السَّلامُ عَلَـيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيارِ مِنَ المؤْمِنيـنَ وَالْمُسْلِمين، وَإِنّا إِنْ شاءَ اللهُ بِكُـمْ لاحِقـون، نَسْـاَلُ اللهَ لنـا وَلَكُـمْ العـافِيَة
Assalāmu `alaykum ahlad-diyāri minal-mu'minīna wa ‘l-muslimīn, wa innā in shā' Allāhu bikum lāḥiqūn nas'alullāha lanā wa lakumul-`āfiyah.
Peace be upon you, people of this abode, from among the believers and those who are Muslims, and we, by the Will of Allah, shall be joining you. [May Allah have mercy on the first of us and the last of us] I ask Allah to grant us and you well-being.
sahihMuslim 2/671, Ibn Majah 1/494, the portion brackets is from Muslim 2/671
The Prophet ﷺ taught this to say when visiting a graveyard: peace upon its people, and the quiet acknowledgement that we too will follow. A greeting, a du'a, and a softening of the heart all at once.

Carrying them in du'a

The bond does not break when they are buried. A righteous du'a from you still reaches them; it is one of the few gifts that crosses from this world into the grave. So keep making it, on the quiet days and the heavy ones, long after others have moved on. Asking forgiveness for the one you lost is also a mercy you are storing up for yourself.

And grieve. The Prophet ﷺ wept at the grave of his own son and said the heart grieves and the eyes shed tears, but we say only what pleases our Lord. Your tears are not weakness or complaint; they are love. O Allah, forgive our dead and our living, widen their graves and fill them with light, and reunite us with those we love in a Garden where there is no more parting.

O Allah, make our last words la ilaha illa Allah.

Questions

What do you say when someone dies in Islam?: Say 'Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un' (we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return), from Surah al-Baqarah. It is the believer's response to any loss or calamity. You then make du'a for the one who has passed, asking Allah to forgive them and have mercy on them.
What should I say to someone who is dying?: Gently encourage them to say 'la ilaha illa Allah' (there is none worthy of worship but Allah), as the Prophet ﷺ taught, so it may be among their last words. Do not pressure or frighten them; remind them softly, sit with them, and make du'a for ease. The Prophet ﷺ also taught us to speak only good around the dying, for the angels say amin to what is said.
What is the du'a for the deceased in the funeral prayer?: The most complete one taught by the Prophet ﷺ begins 'Allahumma-ghfir lahu warhamhu' (O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him). Several wordings are authentic and are gathered here, including a shorter one and a specific du'a for a child. Any of them fulfils the sunnah.
Can my du'a still help someone after they have died?: Yes. The Prophet ﷺ taught that the dead are reached by the du'a of the living, and that a righteous child praying for a parent is among the deeds that continue after death. Asking Allah to forgive them, raise their rank and ease their grave is one of the most loving things you can still do for them.
What do you say when visiting a grave?: The Prophet ﷺ taught us to greet the people of the graves with peace: 'Assalamu alaykum, people of this abode, from the believers and the Muslims...' It is a greeting and a du'a at once, and a reminder that we will one day join them. Visiting graves is encouraged because it softens the heart and reminds us of the hereafter.

Prophetic adhkar transcribed verbatim from Hisn al-Muslim (Sa'eed al-Qahtani) via sunnah.com; al-Bukhari and Muslim taken as sahih, jayyid/reliable as hasan. Recitation audio: the official Hisn al-Muslim audio (hisnmuslim.com) for the adhkar. Selection follows Hisn al-Muslim, with thanks to lifewithallah.com; framing is Buruja's own. FOR SCHOLAR REVIEW: confirm every Arabic text, reference, repetition count and grading before publication.

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Death & Grief

The dying person's own prayer

What the Prophet ﷺ said as he was dying

Gently reminding the dying to affirm Allah

Whoever's last words are these enters Paradise

When loss strikes: we belong to Allah

Du'a for the one who has passed

The funeral prayer: forgive him and have mercy on him

The funeral prayer: forgive our living and our dead

The funeral prayer: under Your protection

The funeral prayer: in need of Your mercy

The funeral prayer for a child

A shorter prayer for a child

Consoling someone who is grieving

Laying the deceased in the grave

After the burial: asking that they be made firm

Greeting the people of the graves

Carrying them in du'a

Questions