Duas and Qur'an to be Read at the Grave


There are many duas which can be read when visiting the grave.

  1. Assalaamualaikum yaa ahlalquboori yagrefullahu lana wa lakum antum salafuna wa nahnu bil asari. (Sunan Tirmizi)
    Translation: Peace be upon you O people of the graveyard, May Allah forgive us and you. You were the people before us and we are after/behind you.
  2. Assalaamu alaa ahladeyaari minalmumineena walmuslimena yarhamuallahu almustaqdemeena menna walmustakereena wa inna inshallah bekum laaheqoon. (Sunan Nasai)
    Translation: Peace be upon O you of the believers and Muslims dwelling in these abodes. Allah have mercy for those who left before us and for the one's who come later. Behold, if Allah wills, we shall meet you.
  3. Assalaamualaikum ahladeyaari minalmumineena walmuslimeena wa inna inshallahu bekum laaheqoon nasalullaha lana wa lakumulaafiya. (Sunan Ibn Maja)
    Peace be upon you, O you believers and Muslims dwelling in these abodes. Behold, If Allah wills, we shall meet you. We ask of Allah's safety for us and for you.

You should also read the Qur'an at the graveside. Stand facing the grave and recite as much of the Qur'an as possible and make dua for the forgiveness of the departed. A few ways of praying for the dead, as related in the Ahadith, are:

  1. Recite Surat Ikhlaas 11 times. it is related in a Hadith that whoever visits the Qabrastaan and recites Surat Ikhlaas 11 times and then pray[s] for the dead, will be rewarded as many fold as the number of dead in the Qabrastaan.
  2. It has been reported in a hadith that whoever visits the Qabrastaan and recites:
    • Surat Fatiha
    • Surat Ikhlaas
    • Surat Takaasur
    and then prays for the dead, the people of the grave will also ask Allah for such a person's forgiveness.
  3. Recite Surat Yaseen. In a hadith it is reported that if a person recites Surat Yaseen in the Kabrastaan, the punishment of the dead will be eased, and the reciter will be rewarded just as much as the dead.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai, www.ask-imam.com
FATWA DEPT.