Du'a for Parents
The Quran places the du'a for parents immediately after the command to lower the wing of humility to them: ask Allah for mercy on them, in the measure of the mercy they showed in raising you. It is one of the few supplications the Quran gives with its reason attached.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Surah Al-Isra 17:24
وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرٗا
Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira.
“And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little”
The du'a the Quran instructs be said for one's parents, alongside humility towards them.
Source: Quran 17:24
- Surah Ibrahim 14:41
رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيَّ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَوۡمَ يَقُومُ ٱلۡحِسَابُ
Rabbanaghfir li wa liwalidayya wa lil-mu'minina yawma yaqumul-hisab.
“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and believers on the day when the account is cast”
The du'a of Ibrahim — forgiveness for himself, his parents, and the believers on the Day of Reckoning.
Source: Quran 14:41
- Surah Al-Ahqaf 46:15
وَوَصَّيۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ بِوَٰلِدَيۡهِ إِحۡسَٰنًاۖ حَمَلَتۡهُ أُمُّهُۥ كُرۡهٗا وَوَضَعَتۡهُ كُرۡهٗاۖ وَحَمۡلُهُۥ وَفِصَٰلُهُۥ ثَلَٰثُونَ شَهۡرًاۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا بَلَغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ وَبَلَغَ أَرۡبَعِينَ سَنَةٗ قَالَ رَبِّ أَوۡزِعۡنِيٓ أَنۡ أَشۡكُرَ نِعۡمَتَكَ ٱلَّتِيٓ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَىٰ وَٰلِدَيَّ وَأَنۡ أَعۡمَلَ صَٰلِحٗا تَرۡضَىٰهُ وَأَصۡلِحۡ لِي فِي ذُرِّيَّتِيٓۖ إِنِّي تُبۡتُ إِلَيۡكَ وَإِنِّي مِنَ ٱلۡمُسۡلِمِينَ
Rabbi awzi'ni an ashkura ni'matakal-lati an'amta 'alayya wa 'ala walidayya...
“And We have commended unto man kindness toward parents. His mother beareth him with reluctance, and bringeth him forth with reluctance, and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months, till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years, he saith: My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee. And be gracious unto me in the matter of my seed. Lo! I have turned unto Thee repentant, and lo! I am of those who surrender (unto Thee)”
The du'a of the mature believer — gratitude for Allah's favour on himself and his parents, and righteousness in his offspring.
Source: Quran 46:15
Quranic du'as on this page: Arabic text — Tanzil Uthmani (public domain); English translation — Marmaduke Pickthall, “The Meaning of the Glorious Koran” (1930), public domain. Translations of hadith du'as are our own.
Frequently asked questions
What du'a is said for parents?
'Rabbir-hamhuma kama rabbayani saghira' — 'My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up when I was small' (Quran 17:24). Ibrahim's du'a in 14:41 asks forgiveness for oneself, one's parents, and the believers.
Can you make du'a for parents who have passed away?
Yes — supplication for the deceased is well established, and Muslim 1631 mentions a righteous child who supplicates for a parent among the things that continue to benefit them after death.
Why does 17:24 mention being raised as a child?
The ayah asks Allah for mercy on the parents 'as they brought me up when I was small' — the mercy asked for is measured against the mercy they gave. The Quran attaches the du'a directly to the command to treat them with humility and kindness.
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