Dhikr to Recite for the Deceased
Explanation
This is the dhikr of tawhid to be recited after the deceased; the scholars are in agreement on it. Whoever does not know this dua should say the takbir: “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil-hamd.”
Dua Text
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ، ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ، وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Transliteration
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu yuhyi wa yumitu wa huwa Hayyun la yamut, dhul-jalali wal-ikram, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir.
Meaning
There is no god but Allah. He is One and has no partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and to Him alone belongs all praise. It is He who gives life and causes death. He is the Ever-Living who never dies, the Owner of majesty and honor, and He has power over all things.
What Is Asked in This Dua
Nothing is requested; one affirms the oneness of Allah, that dominion and praise belong to Him, and that He is the One who gives life and death and never dies.
When and How to Recite
It is recited behind the funeral, after the burial and when the deceased is remembered. Whoever does not know it says the takbir.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is recited for the deceased?
The dhikr of tawhid “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah…” is recited.
What should someone do who does not know this dua?
They say the takbir: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil-hamd.
What does it mean?
There is no god but Allah, He is One and has no partner; dominion and praise belong to Him; He gives life and causes death; He is the Ever-Living who never dies; He has power over all things.
Source
Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 588.
The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?
Published: 25 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026
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