The Virtue of Making Du’a for Others in Their Absence
As Muslims, one of the powerful methods to ensure that our supplications are answered by ALLĀH is to include and remember others in our du’a. This supplication not only benefits the person being supplicated for, but also the person who makes the supplication for them in their absence. Supplicating to ALLĀH on behalf of others in their absence has been mentioned in many authentic ahādith, and it holds numerous virtues.
Umm Darda’ reported: My husband reported that he heard ALLĀH’S Messenger ﷺ as saying: “He who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence), the Angel commissioned ˹for carrying supplication to his Lord˺ says: Aamīn, and for you be the like.” {Muslim 2732}
Abu Bakr at-Turtushee (may ALLĀH have mercy on him ) said regarding the hadith: “This hadith procures a tremendous point of benefit; because if you are answered in regard to your brother because he is absent from you, then we hope that the Angel will also be answered in regard to you – because you are absent from him.” {Ad-Du’aa al-Ma’thoor wa Adābuhu || Page 34}
Sheikh Ibn Baz (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “Therefore if you say: ‘O ALLĀH; forgive so and so, O ALLĀH; rectify his heart and his action, O ALLĀH; make his affairs easy for him, O ALLĀH; grant him righteous offspring, a righteous wife, beneficial knowledge.’ You supplicate for your brother with that which you see to be appropriate, and the appointed Angel says: ‘Aamīn – and for you be the like of it.'”
This in reality is something which only occurs from those of sound hearts, and is desirous of good, loving good, for indeed it signifies on account of these issues; that which is in their hearts from mildness and love and longing for that which is with ALLĀH and sincere counsel towards the servants of ALLĀH. So he supplicates for himself, and supplicates for his Muslim brothers.” {Sharh Riyadhus-Saliheen Sheikh bin Bāz || no. 469}
Therefore, during this blessed month, we should increase the chances of getting our supplications answered by supplicating its like for our brothers and sisters, young, old, sick, oppressed, orphaned, those who have passed away, those looking for jobs, those in debt, those expecting baby, those who are not married, and those seeking kids. Imam an-Nawawee (may ALLĀH have mercy on him) said: “Some of the Salaf, if one of them intended to supplicate for himself; then he would supplicate for his Muslim brother with that supplication, because it is answered, and he attains the like of that.” {Sharh Sahih Muslim Vol. 17 Page 51}
This has been the way of the believers, they supplicate for one another, generation after generation, whether they are contemporaries or are from those that come after them, they supplicate for one another – desiring by way of that good for themselves and for their brothers in faith. ALLĀH said:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And those who came after them say: “Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who preceded us in faith, and put not in our hearts any resentment against those who have believed. Our Lord! YOU are indeed Compassionate and Kind, Merciful.” {Al-Hashr: Verse 10}