Praying/Asking Forgiveness for Non-Muslims

Hanan 15,

You asked

�Why can't we ask forgiveness for non-Muslims, and what is permitted (i.e. if they are sick can we pray they are healed?)?�

Let me add in my opinion.

We can�t ask forgiveness for non-Muslims because, as sister Full of Hopes pointed out, the command is from Allah Himself and we are to obey it without questioning. Only He can give a reason. Since no reason is found in the Qur�an for this Command, all that we have to do is just to obey It. Other than that, when one talks about His Commands, one is expressing his/her own opinion based on his/her understanding, even when such opinion comes from scholars.  And that, whatever their opinions may be, it does not necessarily mean the actual reason intended.

In His Holy Qur�an, Allah says

�It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they should pray  for forgiveness for Pagans, even though they be of kin, after it is clear to them that  they are companions of the Fire.� (9.113)

And

�Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, or not, (their sin is unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times for their forgiveness, Allah will not forgive them: because they have rejected Allah and His Messenger. and Allah guideth not those who are perversely rebellious� (9:80).

Isn�t it as clear as daylight?

We also find in Qur�an:

�And We have indeed made the Qur'an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?� (54:17, 54:22, 54:32, 54:40).

Then, is it necessary to split hair to understand this particular Command that is very clear and straight forward?

There should not be a second thought in obeying His Command. The unbelievers may use the command to ridicule Islam. That is not important at all. Allah�s Commands are not to please anyone.

In the light of the ayat that are quoted above, and other ayat, you can confidently say that Muslims should not pray for forgiveness of the unbelievers. As a reply to you, sister Hayfa has quoted the following:

�Imam Al-Bukhari reports that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say this du`aa' (Arabic for: supplication) for people who are sick, whether he was visiting the sick person or the person was brought to him.

Adh-hibi al-ba�sa, Rabba an-nas, ishfi wa anta ash-shafi, la shifaa� illa shifa�uka, shifa�an la yughadiru saqaman (Arabic for: Remove the affliction, O Lord of Humankind, and send down cure and healing, for no one can cure but You; so cure in such a way that no trace of illness is left).

The hadith does not distinguish between a Muslim and a non-Muslim. And since we know from other authentic hadiths that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) visited some non-Muslims who were sick (including a Jewish boy, as Al-Bukhari himself reports), we suppose he made the same du`aa' for them.

This hadith does not state that the Prophet was begging Allah to forgive the sick, but to cure them. Therefore, the Prophet was not doing anything against the teaching of the Qur�an. Asking for forgiveness for someone�s deeds and asking for his/her well-being are two different things.

Having said all these, we should also be mindful of the following Command:

�O ye who believe! Ask not questions about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble. But if ye ask about things when the Qur'an is being revealed, they will be made plain to you, Allah will forgive those: for Allah is Oft- forgiving, Most Forbearing. (5:101)

May Allah forgive us for all our shortcomings.