Allahumma Maghfir Lahu Warhamhu Meaning, Arabic & Hadith

Allahumma Maghfir Lahu Warhamhu is One profound dua that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would recite for those who passed away is filled with both tenderness and a deep understanding of our need for Allah’s forgiveness and mercy in the hereafter.

When someone close to us passes away, the heart feels a mix of sadness, love, and longing. In Islam, we’re taught to channel these feelings through duas, asking Allah to grant peace and mercy to the soul of the deceased.

Let’s look at the dua in Arabic, its translation, and reflect on its significance.

Allahumma Maghfir Lahu Warhamh in Arabic Text

Here is the dua in Arabic:

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

Transliteration

The dua is transliterated as Allahumma ighfir lahu, warhamhu, wa ‘afihi, wa’fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’I wath-thalji wal-baradi, wa naqiaihi minal-khataya, kama naqqayta thawabal-abyada minad-danasi, wa abdilhu khairan minn alihi, wa zawjan khairan min zawjihi, wa adkhilhul-Jannata, wa a’idh-hu min adhabil-qabri, wa min adhabin-nar.

Allahumma Maghfir Lahu Warhamhu Meaning in English

Allahumma maghfir lahu warhamh means O Allah! Forgive him, bestow mercy upon him, pardon him, overlook his faults, accord him a noble provision and make his grave spacious, wash him with water, snow and hail, purify him from sins as You purified the white garment from soiling, give him a better abode in place of his present one, and a better family in exchange of his present one, and a better spouse in place of his present one. Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the trial in the grave and punishment of the Hellfire.

For female version:

Allahumma Ighfir Laha Warhamha in Arabic Text

Here is allahumma ighfir laha warhamha in Arabic:

اللَّهُـمَّ اغْفِـرْ لَهَا، وَارْحَمْهَا، وَعَافِهَا، وَاعْفُ عَنْـهَا، وَأَكْـرِمْ نُزُلَـهَا، وَوَسِّـعْ مُدْخَـلَهَا، وَاغْسِلْـهَا بِالْمَـاءِ وَالثَّـلْجِ وَالْبَـرَدِ، وَنَقِّـهَا مِنَ الْخَطَـايَا كَمَا نَـقَّيْتَ الـثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَـضَ مِنَ الدَّنَـسِ، وَأَبْـدِلْهَا دَارًا خَـيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهَا، وَأَهْلًا خَـيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِـهَا، وَزَوْجًا خَـيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهَا، وَأَدْخِـلْهَا الْجَـنَّةَ، وَأَعِـذْهَا مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَـبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّـارِ

Transliteration

Allaa-humma-ghfir laha, war-ḥamha, wa ‛aafiha, wa‛fu ‛anha, wa ’akrim nuzulaha, wa was-si‛ mudkhalaha, wagh-silha bil-maa’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naq-qiha mi-nal-kha-ṭaayaa kamaa naq-qayt-ath-thawb-al-’abyaḍa mi-nad-danas, wa abdilha daaran khayran min daariha, wa ahlan khayran min ahliha, wa zawjan khayran min zawjiha, wa ad-khilhal-jan-nata, wa a‛idh-haa min ‛adhaabil-qabri wa ‛adhaabin-naar.

Allahumma Ighfir Laha Warhamha Meaning in English

O Allah! Forgive her, bestow mercy upon her, pardon her, overlook her faults, accord her a noble provision and make her grave spacious, wash her with water, snow and hail, purify her from sins as You purified the white garment from soiling, give her a better abode in place of her present one, and a better family in exchange of her present one, and a better spouse in place of her present one. Admit her into Paradise and protect her from the trial in the grave and punishment of the Hellfire.

Hadith

Jubair b. Nufair says: I heard it from ‘Auf b. Malik that the Prophet (ﷺ) said prayer on the dead body, and I remembered his prayer:

“O Allah! forgive him, have mercy upon him, give him peace and absolve him. Receive him with honour and make his grave spacious; wash him with water, snow and hail. Cleanse him from faults as Thou wouldst cleanse a white garment from impurity. Requite him with an abode more excellent than his abode, with a family better than his family, and with a mate better than his mate. Admit him to the Garden, and protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.”

(‘Auf bin Malik) said: I earnestly desired that I were this dead body.

Sahih Muslim 963

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Reflecting on Each Part of the Dua

1. “O Allah! Forgive him, bestow mercy upon him, pardon him, overlook his faults”:
   This first line is a beautiful plea for Allah’s forgiveness. We begin by acknowledging the deceased’s humanity and need for Allah’s mercy, asking Allah to look past any shortcomings and to be merciful. It reminds us that only Allah’s mercy can cleanse and elevate the soul beyond what any worldly achievements could.
2. “Accord him a noble provision and make his grave spacious”:
   Here, we ask Allah to provide the deceased with blessings and comfort in the grave. The grave is described in hadiths as either a place of peace or difficulty. By asking Allah to make it spacious, we’re seeking a place of ease, warmth, and light for the soul, far from any hardship or distress.
3. “Wash him with water, snow, and hail”:
   This line reflects our hope that Allah will purify the deceased. Water, snow, and hail symbolize absolute purity, each element representing a form of cleansing, thorough and deep. It’s like asking Allah to remove any trace of sin, leaving the soul as clean as a freshly washed garment.
4. “Purify him from sins as You purify a white garment from soiling”:
   This imagery paints a clear picture. Just as a white garment is restored to its original purity by washing away any stains, we’re asking Allah to completely erase any traces of sin from the deceased’s soul, restoring it to its original purity. It reminds us of Allah’s power to renew and cleanse completely, far beyond what we can achieve ourselves.
5. “Give him a better abode in place of his present one, and a better family in exchange for his present one, and a better spouse in place of his present one”:
   This part of the dua is filled with love and a sense of generosity. We’re asking Allah to replace everything the deceased had in this life with something far better in the hereafter, where all things are eternal. By asking for a better family, abode, and spouse, we’re acknowledging that Allah alone can provide the highest and most complete happiness, far greater than any joy we experience in this world.
6. “Admit him into Paradise and protect him from the trial in the grave and the punishment of the Hellfire”:
   This is the ultimate request, seeking Allah’s mercy to grant the deceased eternal peace in Paradise. The dua asks for protection from the trials of the grave, which are described as difficult for many, and from any punishment in the Hereafter. By making this request, we are placing our hope and trust in Allah’s mercy to keep the departed safe, comfortable, and at peace.

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Why This Dua Is So Important

The dua captures everything we would want for a loved one after they pass: forgiveness, mercy, protection, peace, and eternal happiness. It’s a complete and sincere prayer that goes beyond just forgiveness, as it includes every aspect of care — spiritual, physical, and emotional.

This dua also allows us to reflect on our own journey and our own need for forgiveness and mercy. Each time we recite it, we are reminded that we, too, will one day need others to pray for us in this way, seeking Allah’s mercy and compassion on our behalf.

How This Dua Brings Comfort

Reciting this dua can bring immense comfort to those grieving. It reminds us that although our loved ones may no longer be with us in this world, they are in Allah’s care. We can rest assured knowing that our prayers for them reach Allah, and that He listens to the pleas of the hearts left behind.

Moreover, this dua brings a sense of peace to the person reciting it, as it reminds them that Allah is merciful and kind.

Conclusion: Trusting Allah’s Mercy

Through this dua, we express our hope in Allah’s mercy, asking Him to grant the best for those who have passed. We ask for forgiveness, purity, and eternal peace, trusting that Allah’s love and mercy extend beyond this life into the next.

May Allah grant our loved ones forgiveness, mercy, and a place in Paradise. And may He allow us to live in such a way that we, too, are worthy of His mercy and kindness when we meet Him. Ameen.