# Dua for Parents (Rabbi irhamhuma): Arabic, English Meaning > The Quranic dua every Muslim should recite daily for their mother and father — alive or deceased. *Source: https://prayer-times.co.uk/blog/dua-for-parents · Page updated: 2026-07-17 · Independent, free UK prayer times.* --- Daily Duas · 2nd May 2026 · 4 min read ·Kaiser Khan # Dua for Parents (Rabbi irhamhuma): Arabic, English Meaning & Quran Source Quick Answer After Tawhid, no command in the Qur'an is repeated as often as the command to be good to one's parents. Allah ties our gratitude to Him directly to our gratitude to them: 'Be grateful to Me and to your parents' (Surah Luqman 31:14). Among the most beautiful gifts a Muslim can give their mother and father — whether they are alive or have passed away — is a short Quranic dua taught directly by Allah Himself. Last updated 17 July 2026 The Quranic dua every Muslim should recite daily for their mother and father — alive or deceased. Arabic text, transliteration, English meaning and the verse from Surah al-Isra. After Tawhid, no command in the Qur'an is repeated as often as the command to be good to one's parents. Allah ties our gratitude to Him directly to our gratitude to them: 'Be grateful to Me and to your parents' (Surah Luqman 31:14). Among the most beautiful gifts a Muslim can give their mother and father — whether they are alive or have passed away — is a short Quranic dua taught directly by Allah Himself. ## The dua for parents رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا Rabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira. My Lord, have mercy on them both as they raised me when I was small. (Surah al-Isra 17:24) ## Where the dua appears in the Qur'an Allah commands in Surah al-Isra: 'And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy, and say: My Lord, have mercy on them both as they raised me when I was small.' The verse comes immediately after Allah forbids saying even 'uff' — the smallest sound of irritation — to one's parents. The dua is the believer's response: gratitude expressed back to Allah, who placed them in our lives. ## What the dua truly asks for Notice the wording: not just any mercy, but mercy 'as they raised me when I was small'. We were once helpless infants, sleeping when we wanted, eating when we cried, completely dependent. Our parents bore that with patience, often without thanks. The dua asks Allah to show them the same scale of mercy in this life and the next. ## When to recite the dua for parents - After every fard (obligatory) prayer — a habit beloved by the early Muslims. - Whenever you remember a kindness they showed you growing up. - After their death — this is sadaqah jariyah (continuous charity) that reaches them in the grave. - Combine with: rabbighfir li wa li-walidayya wa lil-mu'minina yawma yaqumul-hisab — 'My Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day the reckoning is established' (Surah Ibrahim 14:41). ## Quran reference The dua is from Surah al-Isra (17:24). For a parent who has passed away, the Prophet ﷺ also said in Sahih Muslim (1631) that one of the three things that continue to benefit a person after death is 'a righteous child who prays for them'. Reciting this dua is one of the most direct ways of fulfilling that. Keep this site free Free prayer tools and independent information. A contribution covers hosting and the daily rebuild — it never buys a listing, a method or a mosque’s place in the directory. [Support the site](/support#readers) [Charity partners](/support#charities) ## More guides on this topic [ Daily Duas ### Dua of Prophet Yunus (AS) for Distress: Arabic, English Meaning & Quran Source 4 min read ](/blog/dua-of-yunus-for-distress)[ Daily Duas ### Dua for Righteous Spouse & Children (Rabbana hab lana): Arabic, English Meaning & Quran Source 4 min read ](/blog/dua-for-righteous-spouse-and-children)[ Daily Duas ### Dua for Studying and Seeking Knowledge: Arabic, English Meaning & Quranic Source 4 min read ](/blog/dua-for-studying-and-seeking-knowledge)[ Daily Duas ### Dua for the Sick (Allahumma Rabb an-Naas): Arabic, English Meaning & Hadith for Healing 4 min read ](/blog/dua-for-the-sick)