Duas at times of death and funerals-

Invocation for when tragedy strikes

‘Innaa lillaahi wa ‘innaa ‘ilayhi raaji’oon, Allaahumma’-jurni fee museebatee wa ‘akhliflee khayran minhaa.

We are from Allah and unto Him we return . O Allah take me out of my plight and bring to me after it something better.

Reference: Muslim 2/632.

Invocation for the bereaved

‘Inna lillaahi maa ‘akhatha, wa lahu maa ‘a’taa, wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu bi’ajalin musamman . . . faltasbir waltahtasib .

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.1

also good to say: ‘A’dhamallaahu ‘ajraka, wa ‘ahsana ‘azaa’aka wa ghafara limayyitika.

May Allah magnify your reward, and make perfect your bereavement, and forgive your departed.2

Reference:

1 Al-Bukhari 2/80, Muslim 2/636.

2An-Nawawi, Kitabul-’Athkar, p. 126.

Invocations for the dead in the Funeral prayer

Allaahum-maghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘aafihi, wa’fu ‘anhu, wa ‘akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bilmaa’i waththalji walbaradi, wa naqqihi minal-khataayaa kamaa naqqaytath-thawbal-’abyadha minad-danasi, wa ‘abdilhu daaran khayran min daarihi, wa ‘ahlan khayran min ‘ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa ‘adkhilhul-jannata, wa. ‘a’ithhu min ‘athaabil-qabri[wa 'athaabin-naar].

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].

Reference: Muslim 2/663.

Invocation to be recited when placing the dead in his grave

Bismillaahi wa ‘alaa sunnati Rasoolillaahi.

With the Name of Allah and according to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.

Reference: Abu Dawud 3/314 with an authentic chain. Ahmad also recorded it with the wording: With the Name of Allah, and according to the religion of the Messenger of Allah. Its chain is also authentic.

Invocation for visiting the graves

Assalaamu ‘alaykum ‘ahlad-diyaari, minal-mu’mineena walmuslimeena, wa ‘innaa ‘in shaa’ Allaahu bikum laahiqoona [wa yarhamullaahul-mustaqdimeena minnaa walmusta'khireena] ‘as’alullaaha lanaa wa lakumul- ‘aafiyata.

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 strength.

Reference: Muslim 2/671, Ibn Majah 1/494, the portion brackets is from Muslim 2/671

The Prophet (s.a.w) said “Hurry up with the dead body for if it was righteous, you are forwarding it to welfare; and if it was otherwise, then you are putting off an evil thing down your necks” (Bukhari 2:401)