Can one pray for another.
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
this question:
One of
my parents doesnt pray namaz and Quran. Is it possible that i pray on behalf of
them and offer Hadiya of my Namaz and Quran towards them.
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Answer:
Can one pray for
another
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His
help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide,
and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear
witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His
Messengers.
Beloved brother, the rites of worship in Islam can be
divided into three categories:
- Worship
which involves self alone (praying, fasting, etc.)
- Worship
which involves wealth alone (zakah, sadaqah, etc.)
- Worships
which combine both: self and wealth (Hajj, Umrah, Jihad, etc.)
There is allowance in Shariah regarding another person
fulfilling the worships missed of their loved ones which involve ‘wealth’
alone, or ‘wealth and self’…..but for all acts of worship which involve ‘self’
alone, one must do so themselves and no other person can fulfill that worship
for them.
Thus if one has missed one’s prayer/s, or fast/s for any
reason whatsoever….that individual must atone for their missed worship
themselves.
Your
Question: One of my parents doesnt pray namaz and Quran. Is it possible that i
pray on behalf of them and offer Hadiya of my Namaz and Quran towards
them.
Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah
Nisaa verse 103:
Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that
should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verses 45-46:
45 Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and ‘salaah’: it
is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit.
46 Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord and
that they are to return to Him.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 238:
238 Guard strictly your prayers, especially
the middle (Asr) prayer and stand before Allah in a devout (frame of mind).
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 107 Surah
Al-Maun verses 4-5:
4 So woe to the worshippers
5 Who are neglectful of their prayers
The Prophet (saws) said, "The head of
the matter is Islam, its pillar is the prayer, and the top of its hump is Jihad
in the Way of Allah."
Jabir reports that the Prophet (saws) said,
"Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer."
Related by Ahmad, Muslim, Abu Dawud,
at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas reported that
the Prophet (saws) one day mentioned the prayer and said, "Whoever guards
and observes his prayer, they (his prayers) will be a light and a proof and a
savior for him on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever does not guard and obvserve
them, they will not be a light or a proof or a savior for him. On the Day of
Resurrection, he will be with Qarun, Fir'aun, Haman and Ubayy ibn Khalf."
Related by Ahmad, at-Tabarani and Ibn Hibban.
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "The first thing that the people will be called to account for
on the Day of Resurrection will be the prayers. Our Lord will say to
the Angels although He knows better: 'Look into the ‘Salah’ of My servant to
see if he observed it perfectly or been negligent in it.’ So if he observed it perfectly it will be
recorded to his credit, but if he had been negligent in it in any way, Allah
would say: ‘See if My servant has any supererogatory (nafl) prayers.’ Then if
he has any supererogatory prayers, Allah would say: ‘Make up the deficiency in
My servant's obligatory prayer with his supererogatory prayers.' Thereafter all
his actions will be examined in like manner"
Related by Abu Dawud.
Intentionally missing an obligatory prayer is not even
given as an option in the deen of Islam!
Beloved brother, it is not permissible in Shariah for one
to offer prayers for another….thus if you find that one of your loved one, who
has professed belief in Allah and the Last Day but is unfortunately negligent
of their prayers, you should strive your utmost to try and instill the fear of
Allah Subhanah into them and remind them of their obligatory duties unto their
Lord Creator.
Offering prayers and ‘gifting’ or ‘transferring’ its
rewards to another is neither permissible nor even an option in Shariah.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only
due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me
alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is
the Only Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan
Wister