Dua in English for Others: How to Pray for Family, Friends, and Fellow Muslims

One of the smallest things you can do for someone is also one of the most powerful: say their name in a quiet moment and ask Allah to bless them. They will never know. And yet the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught that this invisible act reaches an angel — who turns to you and says, "May you have the same."

Making dua for others is among the most quietly generous practices in Islam. It costs nothing and asks nothing in return. It is also, in the Islamic understanding, a form of spiritual investment that returns to you in full.

What Is the Islamic Dua for Others?

Making dua for others in Islam means sincerely asking Allah to grant goodness, healing, guidance, or relief to another person — in their presence or in their absence. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established this as a highly recommended practice: "The dua of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is answered. At his head there is an angel appointed, and every time he makes dua for his brother with something good, the appointed angel says: 'Ameen, and may you have the same'" (Sahih Muslim 2732). Dua for others is valid in any language, including English, as scholars agree that personal supplications outside formal prayer may be offered sincerely in one's own tongue.

Why Making Dua for Others Is an Act of Worship

Islam frames making dua for others not as a favor to them but as an act of ibadah (worship) for you. Several reasons stand out from the Quran and Sunnah:

It reflects genuine brotherly and sisterly love. The Prophet (PBUH) said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself" (Sahih al-Bukhari 13). Asking Allah to give someone what you would want for yourself is the most sincere expression of that principle.

It is answered more readily. The hadith in Sahih Muslim (2732) describes an angel appointed specifically to return your dua for others back to you. Scholars note that when you supplicate for someone sincerely and without self-interest, you demonstrate reliance on Allah rather than personal gain — and this sincerity is among the conditions that make a dua accepted.

The Quran commands it. Allah instructed: "Ask forgiveness for your sin, and for the believing men and believing women" (Surah Muhammad, 47:19). Praying for your fellow Muslims is not optional piety — it is a Quranic obligation woven into the fabric of community life.

The Companions and prophets did it. Ibrahim (AS) made dua for his parents. Musa (AS) made dua for his brother Harun to be included in prophethood (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:151). The Prophet (PBUH) would regularly include the believers in his night prayers.

Authentic Duas in English for Different Situations

Dua for a Sick Person (in English and Arabic)

When someone you know is ill, visit them if possible. If you cannot, say this authentic dua with them in your intention:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ النَّاسِ أَذْهِبِ الْبَأْسَ، اشْفِهِ وَأَنْتَ الشَّافِي، لَا شِفَاءَ إِلَّا شِفَاؤُكَ، شِفَاءً لَا يُغَادِرُ سَقَمًا

Allahumma Rabban-nas, adhhibil ba's, washfihi wa antash-shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uka, shifa'an la yughadiru saqama

"O Allah, Lord of all people, remove the difficulty and grant healing — for You alone are the Healer. There is no healing except Yours, a healing that leaves behind no ailment." — (Sahih al-Bukhari 5744)

If you cannot remember this in Arabic, you can sincerely ask Allah in English: "O Allah, heal [name], remove their pain, and grant them a complete recovery." The sincere intention carries the supplication.

Dua for a Deceased Muslim (in English and Arabic)

When someone passes away, this is among the most comprehensive duas for them:

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ

Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu wa'afihi wa'fu 'anhu

"O Allah, forgive him/her and have mercy on him/her, and grant him/her security and pardon him/her." — (Sahih Muslim 963)

The full version also asks: "Honor their resting place, widen their entrance, wash them with water and snow and hail, and cleanse them from sins as a white cloth is cleansed of dirt." You can make this dua for any deceased Muslim, in Arabic or in English, and it reaches Allah regardless of whether you knew the person well.

Dua for Parents (in English and Arabic)

The Quran itself teaches this dua:

رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا

Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira

"My Lord, have mercy on them both, just as they raised me when I was small." — (Surah Al-Isra, 17:24)

This dua is recommended for both living and deceased parents. Making it part of your daily salah — after the obligatory prayers — is one of the most consistent acts of filial love in Islam. For a comprehensive guide to this topic, see Islamic duas for parents.

Dua for Friends and Loved Ones (in English and Arabic)

The Prophet (PBUH) would say when parting from a companion:

أَسْتَوْدِعُكَ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ

Astawdi'ukallaha alladhi la tadi'u wada'i'uh

"I entrust you to Allah, Whose trust is never betrayed." — (Ibn Majah 2825)

This farewell dua places your friend or loved one in Allah's care. For a full collection of duas for friends, see dua for friends.

Dua for Someone Going Through Hardship

اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ أَمْرَهُ وَاشْرَحْ صَدْرَهُ وَثَبِّتْ قَلْبَهُ

Allahumma yassir amrahu, washrah sadrahu, wa thabbit qalbahu

"O Allah, make their affairs easy, expand their chest, and steady their heart."

You can also recite the well-known dua of relief from distress on their behalf:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minal-dhalimin

"There is no god but You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." — (Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:87)

The Prophet (PBUH) said: "No Muslim makes this dua for anything except that Allah answers him" (Tirmidhi 3505). Making it on behalf of someone struggling is one of the most powerful gifts you can offer.

Reference Table: Duas for Others by Situation

How to Make Dua for Others: Practical Guidance

Making dua for others effectively involves a few principles that the Sunnah establishes:

Make dua in their absence. The specific hadith reward — the angel saying "and may you have the same" — applies to supplication made when the person is not present (Sahih Muslim 2732). This is dua al-ghayb, the hidden supplication, and it is uniquely powerful.

Be specific. Rather than "O Allah, bless all Muslims," take a moment to name people and their specific situations. The Prophet (PBUH) taught: "Ask Allah for everything, even the strap of your sandal" (Tirmidhi 3604). Specificity in dua is an act of trust.

Choose the best times. The last third of the night, prostration, after the adhan, and the hour before Maghrib on Fridays are among the times when dua is most accepted (Sahih al-Bukhari 935). Making dua for others at these times multiplies the impact.

Do not limit yourself by language. If the Arabic dua feels beyond you right now, the sincere English version is fully valid. You can say: "O Allah, grant my mother ease in her difficulties, strengthen her health, and fill her heart with peace." That intention and sincerity is the core of dua.

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

Have you read the dua properly? Learn authentic duas, understand their meanings, and call upon Allah with greater confidence through DeenUp.

Take the Dua Quiz

Making Dua for Others a Daily Habit

The easiest way to make dua for others consistently is to attach it to something you already do every day.

After each obligatory salah: Before you make tasleem, spend thirty seconds naming the people who need dua. Start with two or three names — a parent, a friend, someone going through difficulty.

During your night prayer or before sleep: The last action before sleep can be a short dua for the people on your mind. "O Allah, take care of [name], ease their affairs, and grant them what is good." The night has a special quality for dua.

When you think of someone: When a person crosses your mind unexpectedly, treat it as a prompt. Convert the thought into a quick supplication for them. "O Allah, bless [name] and grant them goodness." This takes ten seconds and builds the habit naturally.

When you hear someone is struggling: The moment a friend tells you they are dealing with something, say the dua for them out loud or quietly. You do not need to wait until your next salah.

Many Muslims use a dua reminder app to maintain these habits across the day, especially during busy periods. DeenUp's daily dua feature helps you keep a consistent rhythm of supplication, including for the people in your life who need it most.

For further reading on the Islamic framework around making dua, SeekersGuidance has a wealth of accessible scholarly articles. For verified Arabic text of hadith duas, Sunnah.com is the primary reference. For the Quranic passages cited here in context, Quran.com includes scholarly commentary.

You may also find everyday duas and the guide on dua for someone you love helpful companions to this topic.

For reflections on the spiritual dimension of praying for others, DeenBack's piece on building daily Islamic habits offers grounded guidance. DemiManifest on living Islam daily covers how small practices like dua for others accumulate into a meaningful life of faith.

Who Applies to You

Making Dua for a Non-Muslim

You can and should make dua for a living non-Muslim's guidance and wellbeing. The Prophet (PBUH) made dua for those who opposed him and for those who had not yet accepted Islam. Asking Allah to guide someone you love who is not Muslim is among the most hopeful acts of faith.

However, the majority of scholars hold — based on Surah At-Tawbah (9:113) and Surah At-Tawbah (9:84) — that making dua for the forgiveness of a deceased non-Muslim is not permissible. This ruling is applied with sensitivity and never used to dismiss the grief of losing someone. The living can still be prayed for; the guidance is specific to forgiveness after death.

Making Dua When You Are Angry at Someone

You can make dua for someone even when you are in conflict with them. In fact, the Prophet (PBUH) prayed for those who wronged him. Dua is not a reward you give based on how someone treats you — it is an expression of your own state before Allah. Making dua for someone who has hurt you is among the most spiritually advanced practices in Islam.

Making Dua for Someone Who Has Lost a Child

This is one of the most delicate situations. The most direct Quranic guidance is in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:156): "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return." Making this dua — and following it with a personal supplication for the parents' patience and healing — is the Sunnah response to this level of grief.

Common Questions

Can I make dua for others in English?

Yes, you can make dua for others in English. Scholars agree that personal supplications — including those made for other people — are valid in any language. The Prophet (PBUH) made specific Arabic duas for others, which are recommended for their spiritual blessings, but sincere supplication for another person in your own language is fully accepted by Allah.

What is the reward for making dua for someone else in Islam?

The Prophet (PBUH) said that when a Muslim makes dua for another in their absence, an angel says: "May you have the same" (Sahih Muslim 2732). Making dua for others is one of the most rewarding acts of worship — you receive the same blessing you ask for your fellow Muslim, while strengthening the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood in the ummah.

What dua do I say for a sick person in English?

For a sick person, the Sunnah dua is: "O Allah, Lord of all people, remove the difficulty and grant healing — for You alone are the Healer. There is no healing except Yours, a healing that leaves behind no ailment" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5744). If you cannot recall this, a sincere English request to Allah for the person's complete recovery is valid and accepted.

What dua should I make for someone who has died?

For a deceased Muslim, say: "O Allah, forgive them and have mercy on them, and grant them security and pardon them" (Sahih Muslim 963). You can add: "Honor their resting place, widen their entrance, and wash them clean of sins." You can recite this in English with the same meaning and it will reach Allah.

Is making dua for others better than making dua for yourself?

Making dua for others in their absence carries a unique reward — an angel returning the same supplication toward you (Sahih Muslim 2732). But Islam does not set them against each other. The Prophet (PBUH) regularly asked for both himself and the believers. Begin with praise of Allah, include yourself, then include those you are making dua for.

What is the dua for someone going through hardship?

For someone facing difficulty, you can say: "O Allah, make their affairs easy, expand their chest, and steady their heart." You can also recite the dua from Surah Al-Anbiya (21:87) on their behalf: La ilaha illa anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minal-dhalimin — which the Prophet (PBUH) said relieves hardship whenever a Muslim recites it (Tirmidhi 3505).

Can I make dua for a non-Muslim?

You can make dua for a living non-Muslim's guidance, wellbeing, and entry into Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) did this throughout his life. The majority of scholars hold that dua for the forgiveness of a deceased non-Muslim is not permissible based on Surah At-Tawbah (9:113), but dua for a living non-Muslim's guidance is fully encouraged and a beautiful act of care.

Every name you bring before Allah is a name He already knows. You are not informing Him — you are aligning yourself with Him, expressing care for another person in the most direct way possible. That is what makes dua for others one of the most quietly powerful things you can do in a day.

Do you feel your duas are unanswered?

Have you read the dua properly? Learn authentic duas, understand their meanings, and call upon Allah with greater confidence through DeenUp.

Take the Dua Quiz