#326: Ruling on a Christian making Du`a for a Muslim

QUESTION

“As-Salaamu Alaykum. Please admin what is the ruling concerning a christian friend praying for a Muslim.”

ANSWER

Wa alaykum Salām Warahmatullāh Wabarakātuh.

Alhamdulillāh

Know, may Allāh be merciful to us and to you, that the ‘Ulamā differed on the Du’ā of a Kāfir, whether it can be answered by Allāh or not. While some of them held that it can never be answered by Allāh, others posited that it will be answered by Allāh if for instance they are the oppressed, or they have asked from Allāh something which is right.

Likewise, it is imperative to know that they also differed on the permissibility of saying Āmīn to the Du’ā of a Kāfir. While some of them held that it were impermisisble, majority held that it were permissible as long as the Prayer was directed to Allāh and that which was prayed for is something that is of benefit to Islām and/or Muslims.

Imām Ibn Abū Shaybah – rahimahullāh – recorded in Al-Musannif from Hassān Ibn ‘Atiyyah that he said:

“there is nothing wrong in a Muslim responding Āmīn to the du’ā of a Kāfir. He said: that is because their prayer for us is accepted but their prayer for themselves is not accepted.”

Imām Ibn Al-Mundhir – rahimahullāh – recorded in Al-Awsat from the Imām Is’hāq Ibn Rāhawayh – rahimahullāh – that he considered it OK to allow the Ahlu Adh-dhimmah if they insist on attending the Istis’qā Prayer for rain, as long as they were not invited to start with.

The question you have asked can take two implications.

One, that the Muslim requested him to make prayers for him.

Two, that he made the prayers for him on his own accord.

As for the first, the majority of the ‘Ulamā have mentioned that this is not permissible due to what it implies of approving of their Kufr ways and giving them an impression that they were upon the Truth. Imām Shamsuddīn Ar-Ramlī – rahimahullāh – mentioned this in Nihāyatu Al-Muhtāj.

For the second, there is nothing wrong with this provided there is nothing in the Prayer that is against the Spirit of Islām, and the Prayer is directed to Allāh, and not to Īsa – alayhissalām – or to any other being.

However, we must draw your attention against an unrestricted involvement in this. Do not forget that a Muslim should fortify himself with only Muslim friends and Companions, and not give a Kāfir any reason to assume that he approves of his Kufr way.

Allah – ta’ala – Has said:

وَمَا دُعَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلَّا فِي ضَلَالٍ الرعد: 14

“And the Prayer of the Kāfirūn is in nothing but a waste.” Ar-Ra’ad: 14

While this is the default for all the prayers that are made by the Kuffar, the only exemptions to this are their Prayers that are in furtherance of Islām and Muslims.

We ask Allāh to guide the Christians with good hearts to Islām and to give us the honour of being instrumental in that happening. Āmīn

Bārakallāhu fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran

19th Safar 1439AH

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