Dua for Parents: Quranic Supplications

These are the duas you can recite to ask Allah for mercy, forgiveness, and blessings upon your parents — straight from the Quran.

The Duas for Parents

1. Dua for Mercy Upon Parents (Surah Al-Isra)

Arabic:

رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Transliteration:

Rabbir ḥamhumā kamā rabbayāni ṣaghīrā

Translation:

"My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small."

Source: Quran, Surah Al-Isra (17:24)

This is the primary Quranic dua for parents. Allah ﷻ mentions this supplication directly after commanding believers to show kindness and lowliness to their parents. It is a beautiful expression of gratitude — acknowledging the effort of your parents in raising you and asking Allah to repay them with His infinite mercy.

2. Dua for Forgiveness for Parents (Surah Nuh)

Arabic:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ

Transliteration:

Rabbighfir lī wa li wālidayya

Translation:

"My Lord, forgive me and my parents."

Source: Quran, Surah Nuh (71:28)

This dua was made by Prophet Nuh (as) and is recommended for all Muslims. It combines seeking forgiveness for yourself alongside your parents — a reminder that our connection to our parents extends even into how we seek Allah's pardon.

3. Combined Dua for Deceased Parents

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِوَالِدَيَّ وَارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Transliteration:

Allāhummaghfir li wālidayya warḥamhumā kamā rabbayāni ṣaghīrā

Translation:

"O Allah, forgive my parents and have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small."

Source: Based on Surah Al-Isra (17:24) with the opening invocation of Allah's name, commonly used in Islamic tradition for deceased parents.

Looking for more duas? Browse our complete Dua Collection — organized by occasion with Arabic text, transliteration, and translation.

When and How to Recite

• After every obligatory prayer — the time after salah is among the most accepted times for dua
• During sujood (prostration) — the Prophet ﷺ said: "The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is in prostration, so increase your supplications then." (Narrated by Muslim, 482)
• For living parents — recite dua 1 and dua 2 regularly, especially when you are with them or after calling them
• For deceased parents — recite dua 3, give sadaqah (charity) on their behalf, and ask Allah for their forgiveness; these acts continue to benefit them after death
• On Fridays and the last third of the night — both are times when duas are especially accepted
• Any time you think of your parents — there is no restriction; sincerity matters more than timing

Virtues and Rewards

Honoring parents is one of the greatest obligations in Islam, second only to worshipping Allah alone. Allah ﷻ says: "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to parents." (Quran, 17:23)

The Prophet ﷺ was asked: "Which deed is most beloved to Allah?" He replied: "Prayer performed on time." He was asked: "Then what?" He said: "Dutifulness to parents." He was asked: "Then what?" He said: "Jihad in the cause of Allah." (Narrated by Bukhari, 527; Muslim, 85)

After a parent passes away, the child's dua for them is among the three things that continue to benefit the deceased. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: sadaqah jariyah (ongoing charity), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who supplicates for him." (Narrated by Muslim, 1631)

Making dua for your parents — whether living or deceased — is an act of worship that earns you reward and honors the immense sacrifice they made for you.

Related Duas

• Dua for Forgiveness — comprehensive duas to seek Allah's forgiveness for yourself and your family
• Dua for Success — supplications to ask Allah for success in this life and the next
• Dua for Fasting — duas for Ramadan and voluntary fasts
• Prayer Times — find your local prayer times to know the best moments to make dua after salah
• Haram Check — AI-powered tool to check whether something is halal or haram in Islam