Is it permissible to make Dua for a non-believer who has passed away?
Question
As-Salaamualaikum I have a question regarding praying and making dua for family that is non Muslim who have passed away. Is this permissible?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
It is not permissible to make Dua for a non-muslim after his death.
Almighty Allah prohibited his Rasool (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) from making Dua for his uncle, Abu Talib after he passed away. See the following verse :
Translation: " It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire".
The above ruling is based on the belief of the person that was apparent to people at the time of his death. However, the reality of every persons belief is best known to Allah Taa'la Alone.[1] [2]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ahmad Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ" (التوبة: 113)"
1] إعلم أنه لا يجوز أن يدعى له بالمغفرة وما أشبهها مما لا يقال للكفار ، لكن يجوز أن يدعى بالهداية وصحة البدن والعافية وشبه ذلك
روينا في كتاب ابن السني عن أنس رضي الله عنه قال : استسقى النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) فسقاه يهودي ، فقال له النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) : ” جملك الله ” فما رأى الشيب حتى مات ) الأذكار للإمام النووي, ج١, ص٢٧١,دار الملاح (
2] {مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ (113) وَمَا كَانَ اسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَنْ مَوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ عَدُوٌّ لِلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ لَأَوَّاهٌ حَلِيمٌ } [التوبة: 113، 114]
3] أحكام القرآن للجصاص (4/ 464)
قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ وَقَتَادَةُ : " هُوَ عَامٌّ فِي الْفَرِيقَيْنِ " وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ : " تَقُولُ لِلْكَافِرِ وَعَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا تَقُلْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا يَجُوزُ الِاسْتِغْفَارُ لِلْكُفَّارِ " .
4] كتاب النوازل(16/336)
5] فتاوي محمودية(18/30)
- Answered by
- Ahmad Patel
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah (AskImam). It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.