"I heard 'Awf bin Malik say: "I heard the Messenger of Allah offering the funeral prayer for one who had died, and I heard him say in his supplication: Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu wa 'afihi, wa a'fu 'anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu wa wassi' mudkhalahu waghsilhu bil-ma wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi min al-khataya kama naqqaita-thawb al-abyad min ad-danas. Wa abdilhu daran khairan min darihi, wa ahlan khayran min ahlihi, wa zawjan khayran min zawjihi. Wa adkhilahul-jannah wa najjihi min an-nar" (O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, keep him safe and sound and forgive him, 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 you cleanse a white garment of dirt. O Allah, give him a house better than his house and a family better than his family and a wife better than his wife, and admit him to Paradise and save him from Hellfire)." Or he said: "Wa a'idhhu min 'adhab al-qabr (And protect him from the torment of the grave.)"
The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i 1984
This comprehensive funeral supplication narrated by 'Awf bin Malik contains profound spiritual wisdom and mercy for the deceased Muslim.
Linguistic Analysis
"Allahummaghfir lahu" - O Allah, forgive him: Complete erasure of sins and protection from their consequences.
"Warhamhu" - Have mercy on him: Bestow divine compassion and kindness beyond mere forgiveness.
"Wa 'afihi" - Keep him safe and sound: Preservation from the trials of the grave and resurrection.
Purification Imagery
The comparison to washing a white garment from dirt illustrates complete spiritual cleansing where sins are removed without trace, leaving the soul pure and radiant.
Water, snow, and hail represent different degrees of purification - water for general cleansing, snow for whitening, and hail for removing stubborn impurities.
Paradise Descriptions
"Wassi' mudkhalahu" - Make his entrance wide: Ease in crossing the Sirat and entering Paradise without difficulty.
The request for better house, family, and spouse indicates that Paradise contains perfected versions of worldly blessings, purified from imperfections.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam an-Nawawi notes this supplication encompasses all aspects of the deceased's needs: forgiveness, mercy, protection, honor, purification, and ultimate salvation.
The optional addition "protect him from the torment of the grave" shows the Prophet's comprehensive concern for every stage of the afterlife journey.
Practical Implementation
Scholars recommend Muslims memorize this supplication to recite during funeral prayers, as it contains the most complete form of intercession for the deceased.
The comprehensive nature of this du'a serves as a model for how believers should pray for their departed brothers and sisters in faith.