"I heard the Messenger of Allah offer the funeral prayer and say: Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu wa`fu `anhu wa `afihi, wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi` mudkhalahu waghsilhu bi-ma'in wa thaljin wa-barad, wa naqqihi min al-khataya kama yunaqqa ath-thawb al-abyad min ad-danas. Wa abdilhu daran khairan min darihi wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi, wa qihi 'adhab al-qabri wa 'adhab an-nar (O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, forgive him and keep him safe and sound, honor the place where he settles and make his entrance wide; wash him with water and snow and hail, and cleanse him of his sin as a white garment is cleansed of dirt. Give him a house better than his house and a family better than his family and a spouse better than his spouse. Protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of Hell-fire)." 'Awf said: "I wished that I was that deceased person because of the supplication that the Messenger of Allah said for that deceased person."
The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1983
This narration from 'Awf ibn Malik al-Ashja'i contains the complete funeral prayer supplication taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), demonstrating the comprehensive mercy and compassion Islam shows toward the deceased.
Linguistic Analysis of the Supplication
"Allahumma ighfir lahu" - O Allah, forgive him: Seeking complete erasure of sins and protection from their consequences.
"Warhamhu" - And have mercy on him: Requesting Allah's special compassion that encompasses all needs of the deceased.
"Wa`fu `anhu" - And pardon him: Seeking exemption from accountability and cancellation of misdeeds.
Spiritual Purification Imagery
The comparison "kama yunaqqa ath-thawb al-abyad min ad-danas" (as a white garment is cleansed of dirt) uses powerful visual imagery familiar to desert Arabs, indicating complete spiritual purification where no trace of sin remains.
Comprehensive Protection Plea
"Wa qihi 'adhab al-qabri wa 'adhab an-nar" (Protect him from the torment of the grave and the torment of Hell-fire) encompasses protection in both the intermediate realm (barzakh) and the ultimate destination, showing the Prophet's concern for the believer's entire journey.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars note this supplication contains ten distinct blessings: forgiveness, mercy, pardon, wellness, honorable residence, spacious entrance, purification, better replacement of worldly losses, and dual protection from grave and hellfire punishments.
Imam an-Nawawi commented that 'Awf's wish to be the deceased person demonstrates how Companions recognized the immense value of the Prophet's supplications, which are certain to be accepted by Allah.
Juridical Ruling
The majority of scholars consider this supplication recommended (mustahabb) rather than obligatory in funeral prayers, though reciting it fully preserves the complete Sunnah of the Prophet.