Praying/Asking Forgiveness for Non-Muslims
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Category: Religion - Islam
Forum Name: General Islamic Matter
Forum Description: Discuss Islamic matters/issues that not covered by other sub catagories
URL: https://www.islamicity.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15439
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Topic: Praying/Asking Forgiveness for Non-Muslims
Posted By: Hanan15
Subject: Praying/Asking Forgiveness for Non-Muslims
Date Posted: 14 September 2009 at 3:11pm
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Ramadan Karim,
I am a Muslim and I've been taught that Muslims can not ask forgiveness in our prayers for Non-Muslims, but that we can pray that they are guided. A friend of mine who is new to islam asked me why and I don't have a good answer for her, nor can I find references in the Quran and Sunnah.
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?)?
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Replies:
Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 15 September 2009 at 12:51am
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Asslamu Alikum Wa Rahmatu Allah Welcome to the IslaimCity Forum. I hope you get the full benefit. Before everything welcome to Islam. Sister you have to thank Allah with every breath, every morning and evening for Islam. Allah has guided to the truth and make it clear to you while it is invisible to many lost. Allah is Great. Sister .. I am not a knowledgeable person, but at least I can answer this question. Yeah we should not pray for the non-Muslims the forgiveness because in Quraan Allah ordered us not to do that. We obey Him without asking why. Simply because He knows while we do not. Here is the Aya from Quraan Attaubah9: file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - 9.113 It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those
who believe, that they
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - should
pray for forgiveness for Pagans, even
though they be of kin, after it is
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - clear
to them that they are companions of the
Fire.
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml -
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - 9.114 And Abraham prayed for his father's
forgiveness only because of a
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - promise he had made to him. But when it became clear
to him that he was an enemy
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - to
God, he dissociated himself from him:
for Abraham was most tender-hearted,
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - forbearing.
file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - -------------  And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Posted By: Hayfa
Date Posted: 15 September 2009 at 2:06am
Posted By: Hayfa
Date Posted: 15 September 2009 at 2:09am
Posted By: Hayfa
Date Posted: 15 September 2009 at 2:12am
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An excellent website for information is: Islamomline.net http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah%2FLSELayout&cid=1213871304962 ------------- When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi |
Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 15 September 2009 at 2:15am
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Asslamu Alikum Sister Hayfa, Thanks a lot for this information but I hope you do not judge me or misunderstand me. I did not say anything about praying for the sick because simply I know nothing about it not because I feel they do not deserve it or I have no mercy on non-Muslims. I am happy that Allah knows what is in my heart for them. I wish the whole world is Muslim. And many non-Muslims are VERY good and even doing great deeds many Muslims failed to do. And the other part about forgiveness I answered because I studied it before. I am OK with non-Muslims if they respect my believes and Allah. But when they dare to deny Allah or say something wrong about Islam or Muslims, forgive me sister it is out of my control I ca not keep silent. I must at least educate them and show them my proofs. ------------- And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Posted By: Akhe Abdullah
Date Posted: 15 September 2009 at 1:34pm
Salams Hayfa,JazakAllah Kheiran for the link very good info. 
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Posted By: Hayfa
Date Posted: 16 September 2009 at 2:33am
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Asalaam Alaikum Full of Hopes, I pray you are having a good day. My posts had nothing to do with you. Really. I was answering the person's questions. They asked about if they are sick or not, etc. They asked about the differences in people. Its great you want to help educate people. AND we all need to remember we are not scholars. That is all. And if you read the Ayas they talk about people who have intentionally acted in a certain way- as enemies. So you must SHOW or KNOW that. Just because a person is not a Muslim does not at all make them in this category. You even wrote this yourself. What I wrote was nothing to do with what you wrote. I was answering the question. Most people here in the US, actually DO believe in God or a Higher Power. Most people do not act against Islam. They go to work, go home, take care of their kids and go to bed. For instance. When I became a Muslim, my mom who was Catholic gave me 100% support when I told her I had become a Muslim. Some people here are disowned by their families. Others are treated horribly. One of the benefits of being on this board is we can all learn from each other. If someone posts another perspective or adding on, its most likely nothing to do with you personally. One thing, having lived and grew up in te US is that there is a whole separate Fiqh for Muslims living in nonMuslim lands. Have you ever heard of Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah? He is on the Fiqh Councils (or was) for both Europe and Saudi Arabia. He came and did a whole series on this. Islam is so vast and amazing. And also, if you lived here.. you would see that it is not always obvious what it what. I can honestly say when I was about 18 years old, (awhile ago) that I did not believe in "God." mY childhood was very, very difficult. And the logic of a young person is why would so much bad happen if "God was good." And if Jesus was God why are not things better if he had come to "save us." I was VERY anti-religion. I came to believe in a "Higher Power" many, many years later. It had nothing to do with Islam. Islam, religion were the furthest things from my thoughts. Interestingly, my parents and others who were religious, never gave up. My parents may very well have prayed for me. I am glad you are on this Board. And if someone posts something that is a bit different, just take it as information and most likely hs NOTHING To do with you as a person. Take care Hayfa ------------- When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. Rumi |
Posted By: Chrysalis
Date Posted: 16 September 2009 at 7:28am
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Both Hayfa & Full of Hopes are correct in thier own ways! Full of Hopes is right in saying that we cannot pray for the forgiveness of dead nonmuslims - Even Prophet Muhammad was told to stop praying for the forgiveness of his deceased beloved grandfather (or uncle - cannot recall). Hence the Qur'anic verses. However - until they die - while they are alive. . . we can and should pray for them and give them dua. e.g pray for thier hidayath. For e.g Prophet Muhammad used to pray for atleast one of the Umars to accept Islam and strengthen the Muslim community (Umar ibn Khattab or Abu Jahl, whose real name was apparently Umar!) Allah accepted his dua, and thus Umar Ibn Khattab (r.a) accepted Islam. Another example - When the Romans were fighting the persian pagans, (at the time Surah Rum was revealed) the Muslims morally supported the Roman army, and even prayed for thier victory. So this means we can pray for them both in spiritual and worldly matters. Hayfa gave good detailed info regarding that.Just suddenly remembered an interesting thing - back when the war against Iraq/Afghanistan was i full throttle, and all the muslims were full of raw emotions - the Imaam at our masjid, instead of cursing/badmouthing, used to pray for the 'hidayath' of George Bush ! In Jamaat. . .  ------------- "O Lord, forgive me, my parents and Muslims in the Hereafter. O Lord, show mercy on them as they showed mercy to me when I was young." |
Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 16 September 2009 at 1:13pm
Asslamu Alaikum Wa Rahamu Allah Jazaki Allahu Khairn sister Hayfa, May Allah raise your rank. Now I saw these words above are part of the scholar's anwers not you. I thought you wrote this after my reply becasue maybe you think I am of those people. My problem isI am very clear and I do not want to hide aything in my heart for sisters and friends. Becasue I feel you are all my sisters. If I feel you hurt me I tell you that to understand your excuse and then to keep my heart like you and pray for you. See you did it. You expalined which I really appreciate. And here in the following I do not mean you sweetie, in fact with some replies the author really wants to say something bad about you so that he/she did that by going around the words which is not brave nor correct. I like the clear person. Who tells you your mistakes frankly and honestly. ------------- And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Hayfa wrote:Posted By: seekshidayath
Date Posted: 18 September 2009 at 7:11pm
As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, Welcome to Islamicity, dear sister. Just thought to add up the posts of the sisters above. Is your friend new to Islam, as a muslim or if she 's studying Islam ? In either of the cases you need to be very careful answering her. As you must have learnt by now that its not permissible to pray for forgiveness of a non-muslim, if we are sure he died as a kafir {disbeliever}. If we can pray for there healing, yes, its a very good oppurtinuty to do dawah. One case, i would like to state here, before pasting a hadith, extracted from Islam-qa. Here in India, a masjid was demolished by few hindus. This demolition divided hearts of muslims and hindus living together, Anyways speaking to the point, the very first person who hit the crow-bar over the minar of that masjid, {who then was in rage and hatred towards Islam}, and 3 of his other friends from his group faced Allah's punishment very soon. This first person, got mad and preferred to be nude {Its a long story with worsened conditions of him}. Finally, his father bought him to a sheikh and asked him to make prayers that Allah swt forgives him. That sheikh said, he would pray for them on the condition that if that person is healed, they would embrace Islam. They agreed. Sheikh, made duas for them and was literally crying in his duas for healing that person, and that they become muslims. Alhamdullilah, his prayers were answered. They embraced Islam. This person who faced Allah swt's punishment then, is now a source of guidance to 100s of non-muslims. Here's hadith from Islam-qa With regard to praying for him to be healed from sickness, this is permissible if it serves a purpose, such as if one hopes that he will become Muslim and that his heart will be softened and so on. These are means of healing and Allaah is the Healer, so there is nothing wrong with performing ruqyah for this person, especially since you hope that this kaafir may become a Muslim. There is also a report in a saheeh hadeeth that supports that idea that it is permissible to perform ruqyah for a non-Muslim. Abu Sa�eed (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: A group of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) set out on a journey and travelled until they made came near one of the Arab tribes. (These people were either kaafirs or very stingy, as Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned in al-Madaarij). They asked them for hospitality but they refused to do so. Then the leader of that tribe was stung, and they tried everything but nothing helped him. Then some of them said, Why don�t you go to those people who are staying (nearby)? Maybe some of them have something. So they went to them and said, O people, our leader has been stung and we have tried everything and nothing helped him. Do any of you have something? One of them said, Yes, by Allaah. I will perform ruqyah for him, but by Allaah we asked you for hospitality and you did not give us anything, so we will not perform ruqyah for you unless you give us something in return. So they agreed on a flock of sheep, then he started to blow on him and recite Al-hamdu Lillaahi Rabb il-�Aalameen. Then he recovered quickly from his complaint and started walking, and there was nothing wrong with him. Then they have them what they had agreed to, and some of them (the Sahaabah) said, Let us share it out. The one who had performed ruqyah said, Do not do anything until we come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and tell him what happened, and we will wait and see what he tells us to do. So they came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and told him what had happened. He said, �How did you know that it is a ruqyah?� Then he said, �You did the right thing. Share them out, and give me a share.� And the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) smiled. (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2276, and by Muslim, 2201). {Hope you must have learnt from above hadith that ruqyah was made for a non-muslim - my note} Indeed it is permissible for you to visit him during this sickness, because when a person is sick his heart is softer and is more likely to accept the truth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had a Jewish boy who used to serve him, and he fell sick. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to visit him; he sat by his head and said to him: �Become Muslim.� He looked at his father, who was present, and he (the father) said to him: �Obey Abu�l-Qaasim (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).� So he became Muslim and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out saying, �Praise be to Allaah Who has saved him from the Fire.� Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1356. ------------- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: �All the descendants of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent." |
Posted By: ansari
Date Posted: 20 September 2009 at 6:47pm
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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 file:///C:%5CUsers%5CSahumah%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - �It is not fitting, for the Prophet and those who believe, that they 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 http://www.islamicity.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=52403&FID=88 - - Hayfa has quoted the following: file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPINKPA%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml - file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPINKPA%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx - file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPINKPA%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml - file:///C:%5CUsers%5CPINKPA%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml - �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). 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.
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Posted By: Full of Hopes
Date Posted: 21 September 2009 at 8:18am
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Asslamu Alaikum Jazaka Allah Khairn. May Allah bless you all for your standing for Islam. ------------- And whoever seeks a religion other than Isl�m, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers(3:85)
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Posted By: mariyah
Date Posted: 21 September 2009 at 8:26pm
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`Abdullah bin `Amr Al-`as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The person who perfectly maintains the ties of kinship is not the one who does it because he gets recompensed by his relatives (for being kind and good to them), but the one who truly maintains the bonds of kinship is the one who persists in doing so even though the latter has severed the ties of kinship with him". [Al-Bukhari] ------------- "Every good deed is charity whether you come to your brother's assistance or just greet him with a smile. |
Posted By: Meditations
Date Posted: 21 September 2009 at 11:01pm
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AsSalam Alaykoum and Eid Mubarak everybody I think part of the confusion results from the perspective some muslims have towards non-muslims I think we should all ask ourselves of how we think of non-muslims Do we think of them as an enemy ? Do we think of them as a source of disturbance, which we'd like to avoid if possible Do we think of them as a prospect of a future muslim, who can even be a better muslim than myself ? I think setting the right perspective changes the behavior / attitude and helps us all to be able to deal in a proper way within the teachings of Islam I recall hearing that Ibn Abbas said, if a non-believer did something good to me, I'll tell him Jazak Allah khayran ( May God reward you ) This tells us how the companions viewed the non-believer, it is of no surprise that few years later, those same non-believers turned to be companions themselves, some even doing greater things than the processors AsSalam Alaykoum |
Posted By: seekshidayath
Date Posted: 22 September 2009 at 6:05pm
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Walaikum Salam, I don't think there's any confusion amongst us at all. Its plain and simple that we can pray for non-muslims, until they are alive, If they die in the same state, we cannot pray for there forgiveness. ------------- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: �All the descendants of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent." |