11/26. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 963b — Dua for the Deceased
Supplicating for the deceased during the (funeral) prayer
Dua for the Deceased in Funeral Prayer
Sahih Muslim : 963b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 963b
وَحَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ، سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَوْفَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ، يَقُولُ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى جَنَازَةٍ فَحَفِظْتُ مِنْ دُعَائِهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ وَأَهْلاً خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ أَوْ مِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ " . قَالَ حَتَّى تَمَنَّيْتُ أَنْ أَكُونَ أَنَا ذَلِكَ الْمَيِّتَ . قَالَ وَحَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِنَحْوِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَيْضًا .
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.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 963a, 963bIn-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 109USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 2104
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 963b
This narration repeats the funeral prayer dua remembered by 'Auf b. Malik. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) prayed over a dead body and asked Allah for many forms of mercy: forgiveness, pardon, peace, a noble reception, a spacious grave, cleansing from faults, a better abode, and entry into Paradise. He also asked for protection from the torment of the grave and the Fire. For people searching for dua for deceased in Janazah prayer, this hadith is directly about that topic. The wording is not a general speech; it is a remembered supplication from the Prophet’s funeral prayer. The impact on 'Auf was so strong that he wished he were the deceased person receiving that prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet asked Allah to forgive and pardon the deceased.
- The dua asks for the grave to be made spacious.
- The hadith includes cleansing from faults like a white garment is cleansed.
- The Companion was deeply affected by the Prophet’s supplication.
