Parents hold an irreplaceable and esteemed position in Islam. The Quran and Sunnah repeatedly emphasize the importance of honoring, respecting, and caring for them. One of the most profound ways to express our love, gratitude, and concern for our parents is through heartfelt supplication (Dua). 

The Quran itself provides us with beautiful and comprehensive duas that we can recite for their well-being in this life and the Hereafter. The best supplications are those taught by Allah in His book, encapsulating all that is good for us and our loved ones.

Making dua for parents, whether they are alive or have passed away, is a continuous act of righteousness. It is especially crucial during their moments of vulnerability, such as illness, old age, or distress, as these are times when they are in greatest need of our prayers. This article explores some of the most significant Quranic duas that children can make for their parents, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, mercy, and blessings upon them.

1. Quranic Dua for Comprehensive Forgiveness For Parents

This powerful dua, narrated in the Quran as part of Prophet Ibrahim’s supplications, is a comprehensive plea for forgiveness. It teaches us to seek pardon not only for ourselves and our parents but also for the entire community of believers on the Day of Judgment, highlighting the interconnectedness of the Ummah.

The Dua in Arabic:

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

Transliteration:

Rabbana-ghfir li wa liwalidayya wa lilmu’minina yawma yaqumul-hisab.

English Translation:

“Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.”

Quranic Reference:

Surah Ibrahim (14:41)

This dua is profound in its scope. It acknowledges the ultimate accountability every soul will face and seeks Allah’s vast mercy to cover our shortcomings and those of our parents. Parents have an immense claim upon their children, and no matter what we do, we can never fully repay the love, care, and sacrifices they made for us. 

Praying for their forgiveness is a vital way to honor them and acknowledge our continuous need for Allah’s grace. This supplication also instills a sense of community by including all believers, reminding us to wish for others what we wish for ourselves. 

It is a prayer that reflects humility and a deep understanding of human frailty and divine mercy, especially crucial as parents age or face difficulties.

2. Seeking Mercy for Parents as They Raised You

This is perhaps one of the most well-known and emotionally resonant duas for parents in the Quran. It directly links the mercy we seek for our parents to the compassion and care they showed us during our vulnerable childhood. It’s a beautiful acknowledgment of their efforts in nurturing us.

The Dua in Arabic:

رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Transliteration:

Rabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.

English Translation:

“My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small.”

Quranic Reference:

Surah Al-Isra (17:24)

This dua encapsulates the essence of filial piety. The phrase “as they brought me up [when I was] small” serves as a powerful reminder of the tireless efforts, sleepless nights, and unconditional love parents extend to their children. Parents deserve our utmost kindness and supplication, especially in their moments of weakness (“لحظات الوهن، والمرض، والحزن، والقلق”). 

By asking Allah to bestow His mercy upon them in the same measure as they cared for us, we are acknowledging their immense sacrifices. 

This supplication is not just a request for mercy but also an expression of deep gratitude and a recognition of the foundational role parents play in our lives. It is a simple yet incredibly profound prayer that every Muslim is encouraged to make regularly for their parents.

3. A Quranic Dua for Parents’ Gratitude, Righteous Deeds, and Blessings

This comprehensive supplication is a request for divine assistance to be grateful for Allah’s favors upon oneself and one’s parents, to perform righteous deeds that please Him, and for righteousness to extend to one’s offspring. 

The Dua signifies a holistic approach to a believer’s life, encompassing past blessings, present actions, and future generations.

The Dua in Arabic:

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِي ۖ إِنِّي تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

Transliteration:

Rabbi awzi’ni an ashkura ni’mataka-llati an’amta ‘alayya wa ‘ala walidayya wa an a’mala salihan tardahu wa aslih li fi dhurriyyati, inni tubtu ilayka wa inni mina-l-muslimin.

English Translation:

“My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims.”

Quranic Reference:

Surah Al-Ahqaf (46:15)

This beautiful dua emphasizes the importance of gratitude, not just for the blessings bestowed upon us directly, but also those conferred upon our parents, recognizing that their well-being and faith are also divine favors. 

The plea “enable me” (أَوْزِعْنِي) shows a deep reliance on Allah’s help to cultivate thankfulness and perform good deeds. Islam encourages believers to pray with supplications from the Quran, as they are the most excellent. T

his dua perfectly aligns with that, seeking Allah’s guidance to live a life of piety that pleases Him. Furthermore, it extends the prayer to one’s children (“and make righteous for me my offspring”), demonstrating a concern for the spiritual well-being of future generations. 

It is a testament to a mature faith that acknowledges past blessings, strives for present righteousness, and prays for a virtuous legacy, all while affirming repentance and submission to Allah.

4. Prophet Nuh’s Quranic Dua For Parents’ Forgiveness

This supplication is from Prophet Nuh (Noah), a testament to the long tradition of prophets praying for their parents and the community of believers. It is a plea for forgiveness that extends to oneself, one’s parents, those who enter one’s home as believers, and all believing men and women, while also seeking ruin for the oppressors.

The Dua in Arabic:

رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيْتِيَ مُؤْمِنًا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَلَا تَزِدِ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارًا

Transliteration:

Rabbi-ghfir li wa liwalidayya wa liman dakhala baytiya mu’minan wa lilmu’minina wal-mu’minati wa la tazidi-z-zalimina illa tabara.

English Translation:

“My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction.”

Quranic Reference:

Surah Nuh (71:28)

Prophet Nuh’s dua is a powerful example of unwavering faith and concern for the righteous. Seeking forgiveness for parents is a central theme, underscoring its importance across generations of prophets. The inclusion of “whoever enters my house a believer” broadens the scope of compassion and hospitality within the faith. 

The best supplications are from the Book of Allah, and this dua is a prime example. It not only seeks mercy and pardon for the believers but also calls for justice against those who persist in wrongdoing, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of divine attributes. 

For children, reciting this dua is a way to connect with the legacy of prophets in honoring parents and to seek a wide-ranging forgiveness that envelops their loved ones and the broader Muslim community.

5. Prophet Sulaiman’s Dua for Gratitude and Righteousness

Introduction to the Dua: This profound supplication was made by Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon), as mentioned in Surah An-Naml. It’s a comprehensive request to Allah to be enabled to show gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon himself and his parents, to perform righteous deeds that please Allah, and to be admitted by Allah’s mercy among His righteous servants. The new text highlights that blessings upon parents are also blessings upon their children.

The Dua in Arabic:

رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحًا تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ

Transliteration: Rabbi awzi’ni an ashkura ni’mataka allatee an’amta ‘alayya wa ‘ala walidayya wa an a’mala salihan tardahu wa adkhilnee birahmatika fee ‘ibadika as-saliheen.

English Translation:

“My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to do righteousness of which You approve. And admit me by Your mercy into [the ranks of] Your righteous servants.”

Quranic Reference: Surah An-Naml (27:19)

The Dua begins by asking Allah for help to be grateful for His blessings upon oneself and one’s parents: {أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ}. This highlights the understanding that Allah’s favors upon parents are indeed favors upon their children as well, impacting them directly. 

As Ibn Sa’di is quoted, “The blessings on parents are blessings on their children and progeny because they will inevitably receive some of it and its causes and effects, especially the blessings of faith; for the righteousness of parents in knowledge and action is one of the greatest reasons for the righteousness of their children.” 

This dua therefore beautifully encapsulates seeking divine assistance for acknowledging these interconnected blessings and translating that gratitude into actions that Allah accepts, and ultimately aspiring to join the company of the righteous. It’s a prayer for holistic success in both worldly gratitude and spiritual attainment.

6. Prophet Ibrahim’s Dua for His Father

Introduction to the Dua: This dua is a narration of Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) poignant plea for his father. It reflects a son’s deep love and concern for his parent’s salvation. However, as the new text and Islamic scholarship clarify, this supplication has a very specific context that is crucial for believers to understand.

The Dua in Arabic:

وَاغْفِرْ لِأَبِي إِنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الضَّالِّينَ

Transliteration: Waghfir li-abee innahu kana mina-d-daalleen.

English Translation:

“And forgive my father, indeed he was of those astray.”

Quranic Reference: Surah Ash-Shu’ara (26:86)

Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) made this supplication for his father, who was a polytheist, before Allah forbade him from doing so. The Quran states elsewhere (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:113-114) that it is not for the Prophet and those who believe to ask forgiveness for polytheists, even if they are kin, after it has become clear they are companions of Hellfire.

Ibrahim’s initial plea stemmed from his promise to his father ({سَأَسْتَغْفِرُ لَكَ رَبِّي إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِي حَفِيًّا} – Maryam: 47), but he desisted once Allah’s command became clear. Therefore, while this dua is in the Quran and shows the depth of a prophet’s compassion, it is not a general model for Muslims to seek forgiveness for non-believing parents after their disbelief is confirmed and they pass away upon it, as the general rule is to pray for the forgiveness and mercy of believing parents. 

The new text explicitly states, “والدعاء بالرحمة والمغفرة خاصة بالوالدَيْن المؤمنَيْنِ بخلاف الوالدَيْن الكافرَيْنِ” (Supplication for mercy and forgiveness is specific to believing parents, unlike unbelieving parents). Kindness and good companionship in worldly matters are enjoined for non-believing parents ({وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا} – Luqman: 15), but specific prayers for their forgiveness (if they die upon disbelief) are not permissible. 

This Quranic narration serves more to highlight Prophet Ibrahim’s gentle nature and earnest desire for his father’s guidance, rather than as a universally recited dua for all parental situations.

Read more about: Quranic and Prophetic Duas for Success

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Conclusion:

Making dua for our parents is a beautiful expression of our faith and a means of fulfilling our duties towards them. These Quranic duas are treasures that provide us with the perfect words to seek Allah’s boundless mercy, forgiveness, and blessings for those who raised us. May Allah accept our supplications and grant our parents the highest stations in Jannah.