Begin with seeking refuge in Allah and saying Bismillah.
Roman English:
Aoozu billahi minash shaitanir rajeem
Bismillahir rahmanir raheem
Meaning:
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
After Fatiha, it is sunnah to recite one or three small Surahs. Most commonly:
Surah Al-Ikhlas (3 times) – Roman English:
Qul huwallahu ahad
Allahus samad
Lam yalid wa lam yoolad
Wa lam yakul lahoo kufuwan ahad fatiha ka tarika in roman english verified
Or Surah Al-Falaq and An-Nas for more reward.
Surah Fatiha (The Opening) is the first Surah of the Holy Quran and is often called "Ummul Quran" (The Mother of the Quran). It is an essential pillar (Rukn) of the Salah (prayer). Without reciting it properly, the prayer is incomplete.
Below is the step-by-step verified method (Tarika) of reciting Surah Fatiha in Namaz and generally.
This method is not an opinion. It is verified by: Begin with seeking refuge in Allah and saying Bismillah
Without Dua, the recitation has no benefit for the deceased. Raise your hands (palms up) and pray aloud or silently.
Roman English Dua (Example):
Allahumma ighfir lihayyina wa mayyitina, wa shaahidina wa ghaa'ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa dhakarina wa unthana.
Allahumma man ahyaytahu minna fa ahyihi 'alal Islam, wa man tawaffaytahu minna fa tawaffahu 'alal iman.
Allahumma la tahrimna ajrahu wa la tudillana ba'dahu.
Thumma inni qara'tul Qur'ana al-'azeem wa ja'altu sawaabahu wa sawaaba ma qara'tu hadiyyatan ilaa roohi [name of deceased] wa ilaa jamee'il muslimeena wal muslimateen, wal mu'mineena wal mu'minaat, al-ahyaa'i minhum wal amwaat.
Translation:
"O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our present and our absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever You keep alive, keep him upon Islam, and whoever You cause to die, let him die upon Iman. O Allah, do not deprive us of his reward and do not let us go astray after him. After Fatiha, it is sunnah to recite one
Then, I have recited the Great Quran and I donate the reward of this recitation as a gift to the soul of [name of deceased] and to all Muslim men and women, all believers, living and dead."
Many people add unverified practices. Avoid these:
| Wrong Practice | Why It's Wrong | |---|---| | Standing and reciting Fatiha collectively at a grave | Prophet (ﷺ) did not do this. Dua for the dead is better made sitting or anywhere, not necessarily at the grave. | | Eating food "from the Fatiha" | The reward of Fatiha is spiritual. Food is Sadqah (charity) - separate act. Do not mix. | | Hiring someone to recite Fatiha for money | Taking payment for Quran recitation is haram (forbidden). Do it yourself for free. | | Performing Fatiha on 3rd, 10th, or 40th day | These are cultural innovations. You can recite Fatiha any day, any time. No fixed dates in Islam. | | Reciting Fatiha loudly in a mixed gathering | Quran should be recited with humility. Loud group recitation causing disturbance is makruh (disliked). |