اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِأَبِي وَلِأُمِّي وَارْحَمْهُمَا وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُمَا وَأَكْرِمْ مَثْوَاهُمَا
Allahummagh-fir li-abi wa li-ummi warhamhuma wa tajawaz 'anhuma wa akrim mathwahuma
O Allah, forgive my father and my mother, have mercy on them, overlook their shortcomings, and honor their resting place.
The Prophet ﷺ was asked: "Is there any birr I can do for my parents after they die?" He said: "Yes — pray for them, seek forgiveness for them, fulfill their pledges, maintain ties with their relatives, and honor their friends" (Abu Dawud 5142). "Akrim mathwahuma" — honor their resting place (the grave or the afterlife abode) — asks Allah to dignify where they now reside. Birr does not end at the grave. Five ways to serve parents who are no longer alive — and du'a is the first and most consistent of them. Ibn Umar (RA) would honor his father's friends long after Umar's death, carrying on the bond.
Related Du'as
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَالْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ
O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being, pardon him, honor his reception, expand his entrance, and wash him with water, snow, and hail. Cleanse him of sins and wrongdoings as a white garment is cleansed of filth. Grant him an abode better than his home, a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse. Admit him to Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.
Sahihوَاخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ الذُّلِّ مِنَ الرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say: My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small.
Sahihرَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ
My Lord, inspire me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do righteous deeds that please You.
Sahihاللَّهُمَّ ارْزُقْنِي بِرَّ وَالِدَيَّ حَيَّيْنِ وَمَيِّتَيْنِ وَلَا تَحْرِمْنِي أَجْرَهُمَا
O Allah, grant me the ability to be dutiful to my parents — whether alive or deceased — and do not deprive me of their reward.
Athar