Can I pray for my non-Muslim mother after she dies?

By Creator · October 12, 2026 · 1 min read

No, not for forgiveness, according to the Quran. Muslims don't make the funeral prayer or ask forgiveness for relatives who died without Islam. That can feel incredibly hard. But it doesn't mean you stop loving her. You can grieve, visit her grave, honor her memory, and leave her to Allah, who is more just and merciful than anyone.

What the Quran says

مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِىِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى قُرْبَىٰ "It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives..." Quran 9:113

Scholars apply this to praying for the forgiveness of anyone who died outside Islam. Before death, though, you can and should pray for a living parent's guidance.

The Prophet ﷺ knew this pain

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ visited his own mother's grave and wept, and those around him wept too. He said he had asked Allah for permission to seek forgiveness for her, and it wasn't granted, but he was allowed to visit her grave (Sahih Muslim 976).

So the man closest to Allah felt this exact grief. Your tears aren't a lack of faith. They're love.

What you can still do

Visit her grave, as the Prophet ﷺ did with his mother.
Remember her kindly and tell your children about her.
Stay close to her family and friends. Keeping those ties honors her.
Do good in her memory, like supporting a cause she loved, as your own good deed.
Pray for yourself and your family for patience and comfort.

Leave her to Allah

You don't know what your mother truly heard about Islam, or what was in her heart at the end. Only Allah knows. The Quran says He never punishes until a messenger has come (Quran 17:15), and many scholars say people who never received the message clearly are judged differently. Trusting Allah with her isn't giving up on her. It's placing her with the One who is most fair.

For more on this, see Will my non-Muslim parents go to hell?

Take care of yourself

Losing a parent is one of the hardest things anyone goes through, and being a convert can make it lonelier. Lean on Muslim friends, your mosque, or a grief counselor. You don't have to carry this alone.

Key points

The Quran doesn't allow asking forgiveness for those who died outside Islam.
The Prophet ﷺ felt this same grief for his mother.
You can visit her grave and honor her memory.
Her final judgment is with Allah alone.

Tip: If your mother is still alive, make dua for her guidance today. It's one of the most loving things you can do for her.

Death & Funerals Family