Duas for parents, children and family from the Quran and Sunnah

Duas for parents, children and family from the Quran and Sunnah

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Quick answer: The Quran gives believers ready-made prayers for parents (17:24 and 14:41), for children (25:74, 46:15 and 3:38), and Sahih al-Bukhari records the words the Prophet ﷺ used to seek Allah’s protection for his grandsons. Sahih Muslim reports that a righteous child’s prayer continues to reach a parent after death. The sources gathered here give no fixed number of repetitions for any of these, so they’re prayers to return to whenever you think of your family.

Dua for parents: the verse of mercy

The best-known Quranic prayer for parents comes right after Allah (the One God) commands kindness to them. The verses ask the believer to speak gently to parents in old age and to lower the wing of humility out of mercy, then give the words to say.

۞ وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ وَبِٱلْوَٰلِدَيْنِ إِحْسَٰنًا ۚ إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ ٱلْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَآ أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَآ أُفٍّۢ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًۭا كَرِيمًۭا ﴿23﴾ وَٱخْفِضْ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحْمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِى صَغِيرًۭا ﴿24﴾

[23] And your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him, and to parents, good treatment. Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word. [24] And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."

The wording is short: it asks Allah to have mercy on both parents, and it links that mercy to the way they raised you when you were small. One commentary on the du’a notes that it doesn’t argue for the parents’ virtue at all. It appeals to the mercy they showed you as a child and asks Allah to return that mercy to them.

Because the request is simply for mercy, it’s used for parents who are alive and for those who have died. A reader can say it in Arabic, or in their own language alongside it.

Forgiveness for parents and the believers

The second Quranic prayer is the words of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), who asks first that he and his descendants keep up the prayer, then asks for forgiveness for himself, his parents and the believers.

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ ﴿40﴾ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ ﴿41﴾

[40] My Lord, make me an establisher of prayer, and [many] from my descendants. Our Lord, and accept my supplication. [41] Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established."

The prayer looks ahead to the Day of Reckoning, so it widens the circle beyond the family. It asks for forgiveness for yourself, for your parents and for all believers in one sentence. Muslims commonly say it after the obligatory prayers or in the last part of the night, though the references used for this article name no fixed time or count for it.

Duas for children: the Quranic prayers

Three passages in the Quran are prayers about offspring. The first describes the servants of the Most Merciful, who ask for comfort in their spouses and children and for the strength to lead others in righteousness.

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

And those who say, "Our Lord, grant us from among our wives and offspring comfort to our eyes and make us an example for the righteous."

The phrase “comfort to our eyes” means a source of joy and peace. The second half asks for something larger than comfort: that the family becomes one that others can follow in good.

The second passage is spoken by a person who has reached maturity.

وَوَصَّيْنَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيْهِ إِحْسَٰنًا ۖ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرْهًۭا وَوَضَعَتْهُ كُرْهًۭا ۖ وَحَمْلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهْرًا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةًۭ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِىٓ أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِىٓ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَىَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَىَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَٰلِحًۭا تَرْضَىٰهُ وَأَصْلِحْ لِى فِى ذُرِّيَّتِىٓ ۖ إِنِّى تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَإِنِّى مِنَ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ

And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, good treatment. His mother carried him with hardship and gave birth to him with hardship, and his gestation and weaning [period] is thirty months. [He grows] until, when he reaches maturity and reaches [the age of] forty years, he says, "My Lord, enable me to be grateful for Your favor which You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents and to work righteousness of which You will approve and make righteous for me my offspring. Indeed, I have repented to You, and indeed, I am of the Muslims."

It combines gratitude for Allah’s favour on yourself and your parents, a wish to do good deeds Allah approves of, and a request that your offspring be righteous. The words “make my offspring good” refer to one’s children and descendants. The verse places this prayer at the age of 40, which is when the person “attains his maturity and reaches forty years”, although many Muslims say it at any age.

The third is the prayer of Zakariya (Zechariah), who asked Allah for a good child.

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

At that, Zechariah called upon his Lord, saying, "My Lord, grant me from Yourself a good offspring. Indeed, You are the Hearer of supplication."

This is the prayer commonly said by people hoping for children. The verse itself ends by naming Allah as the One who hears supplication, which gives the reader a reason to keep asking.

Seeking protection for children

Sahih al-Bukhari records the words the Prophet ﷺ used for his grandsons. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would seek refuge with Allah for al-Hasan and al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with them), and he would say that Ibrahim used the same words for Isma’il and Ishaq.

إِنَّ أَبَاكُمَا كَانَ يُعَوِّذُ بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ، أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّةِ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْطَانٍ وَهَامَّةٍ، وَمِنْ كُلِّ عَيْنٍ لاَمَّةٍ

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain and say: "Your forefather (i.e. Abraham) used to seek Refuge with Allah for Ishmael and Isaac by reciting the following: 'O Allah! I seek Refuge with Your Perfect Words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye

In plain English, the person asks for protection in Allah’s perfect words from every devil, from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye. The phrasing in the report is for two children (“for you both”), so a parent adjusts the pronoun for one child or for several. The reports used here do not state a number of repetitions or a set time of day.

A second Bukhari report concerns the family before a child is born. It’s placed in the chapter on saying the name of Allah during every action, including on having relations with one’s wife.

لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ إِذَا أَتَى أَهْلَهُ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا. فَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمَا وَلَدٌ، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ

Narrated Ibn `Abbas:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you on having sexual relations with his wife said (and he must say it before starting) 'In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us (i.e. the coming offspring) from Satan,' and if it is destined that they should have a child then, Satan will never be able to harm that offspring

The couple ask Allah to protect them from Satan, and to protect from him whatever Allah gives them. The report states that if a child is destined for them, Satan will never be able to harm that offspring. As the narration says, the words are said before starting.

When a parent has died

Sahih Muslim preserves a statement of the Prophet ﷺ about what stays with a person after death. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported it, and it lists three things.

إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ إِلاَّ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased)

The three are continuing charity, knowledge that benefits people, and a righteous child who prays for the parent. A modern encyclopedia of translated hadith explains that supplication benefits a deceased person even if the one praying isn’t his child; the child is named because he is usually the one who keeps praying for his parents.

So the Quranic duas above (17:24 and 14:41) are the natural words for this purpose, and the report adds that nothing stops a child from asking Allah for a parent in their own words too. Many families make it a habit to name their parents in their prayers, for instance after salah.

Praying for family members who are away

Sahih Muslim also reports a teaching that applies to any relative or friend who isn’t present. The Prophet ﷺ said that a Muslim’s supplication for his brother in his absence is answered, and an appointed angel says Amen and adds “may it be for you too”. The report is numbered 2732 in the book of remembrance and supplication, and it isn’t quoted in full here.

A commentary on this report in a published study of Sahih Muslim notes that praying for a brother in his absence is commendable because it carries sincerity. In practice that means a parent can pray for a child at university, or an adult child for a parent in another country, without telling them.

Quick reference table

Situation When it is said Source
Mercy for parents For living or deceased parents; no fixed time in the sources used Quran 17:23-24
Forgiveness for parents and believers Any time; asks forgiveness for yourself, parents and believers Quran 14:40-41
Comfort and righteousness in the family Any time; a prayer of the servants of the Most Merciful Quran 25:74
Gratitude and righteous offspring Any time; the verse places it at age 40 Quran 46:15
Asking for a good child When hoping for children; prayer of Zakariya Quran 3:38
Refuge for children Said over children; adjust “you both” for one or many Sahih al-Bukhari 3371
Protection for the couple and a future child Before marital relations Sahih al-Bukhari 141
A child’s prayer for a deceased parent After the parent’s death Sahih Muslim 1631
Praying for someone who is absent Whenever you think of them Sahih Muslim 2732

What the sources don’t give

Some well-known family duas, such as particular words said at the birth of a child or a prayer said when a child begins to speak, rest on collections other than Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. They are not quoted here. For these, and for questions such as what a parent should say when a child is ill, readers are best served by asking a qualified scholar.

Etiquette points such as facing the qiblah or beginning with praise of Allah are not drawn from the sources collected for this article, so they’re left to a separate piece on how to make du’a. The Muslim report above does give one reported detail: praying for someone privately, in their absence, brings the angel’s reply.

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