Abu Hurairah (RAA) narrated, ‘When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed a funeral prayer, he would say, "O Allah! Forgive those of us who are alive, and those who are dead, those present and those absent, those who are young and those who are male and those who are female. O Allah! Let those of us to whom You have given life, live in Islam, and let those of us You take back die in a state of faith. O Allah! Do not deprive us of our reward for (supplicating for) him, and cause us not to go astray after him." Related by Muslim and the four Imams.
Funerals - Bulugh al-Maram 566
This comprehensive funeral supplication transmitted by Abu Hurairah (RAA) contains profound wisdom and encompasses all categories of believers. The Prophet (ﷺ) begins by seeking forgiveness for all Muslims - living and deceased, present and absent, young and old, male and female - demonstrating the universal nature of divine mercy and the interconnectedness of the Ummah.
The second portion addresses the critical matter of ending one's life in a state of faith (iman). The prayer "let those of us You take back die in a state of faith" emphasizes the importance of husn al-khatimah (good ending) and protection from deviation at life's conclusion. This reflects the Islamic understanding that the final moments determine one's eternal abode.
The concluding supplication contains two essential requests: first, that Allah not deprive the living of reward for their intercession, affirming that supplicating for the deceased benefits both parties; second, the profound plea "cause us not to go astray after him" acknowledges how the death of righteous individuals can sometimes lead to spiritual confusion or deviation among survivors, thus seeking protection from such trials.
This hadith from Bulugh al-Maram teaches the comprehensive nature of Islamic funeral rites, where the living pray not only for the deceased but also for their own spiritual protection and steadfastness, maintaining the chain of faith across generations of believers.