and admit him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire, …

His statement, “and admit him into Paradise”: Paradise is the abode of the God-fearing, as Allah Most High says:

“Race toward forgiveness from your Lord and a Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing.” [Al ‘Imran: 133]

His statement, “and protect him from the punishment of the grave”: for there is punishment in the grave. Yet Allah Most High may shield a person from its punishment if he persistently beseeches Allah in supplication, as the Prophet ﷺ instructed when he said, “Seek refuge with Allah from the punishment of the grave.” (1)

For this reason, one is instructed, in every prayer after reciting the final tashahhud, to seek refuge from the punishment of the grave, the punishment of the Fire, the trials of life and death, and the trial of the False Messiah. (2)

His statement, “and the punishment of the Fire,” is clear.

If someone asks: Does not being admitted into Paradise make it unnecessary to ask Allah to protect him from the punishment of the grave and the punishment of the Fire?

The answer is: No. A person may enter Paradise after having been punished in the grave and after having been punished in the Fire. Thus, you ask Allah to admit him into Paradise free from any prior punishment, whether in the grave or in the Fire.

His statement, “O Allah, forgive him”: the pronoun is masculine singular. If the deceased is a woman, should we say, “O Allah, forgive him,” or should we use the feminine form: “O Allah, forgive her”?

The answer is: the feminine form, because the pronoun referring to a woman must be feminine. Thus, we say: “O Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her, grant her well-being, and pardon her,” … continuing to the end of the supplication.