When supplicating for the disbeliever is allowed Fatwa No: 14165
- Fatwa Date:10-11-2007
Is it permissible to supplicate Allaah The Almighty for a disbeliever to forgive him, guide him to Islam and facilitate the attainment of some worldly affairs for him?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
It is impermissible to supplicate Allaah The Almighty to forgive a disbeliever or to have mercy upon him or to grant him any of the rewards of the Hereafter. It was reported by Imaam An-Nawawi (the Shaafi‘i scholar) that Muslims are prohibited from asking Allaah The Almighty to forgive the disbeliever. This is according to the Sharee‘ah texts and the consensus of scholars.
However, it is permissible to supplicate Allaah The Almighty to guide a disbeliever to Islam. If this disbeliever is in a state of war with Muslims, then it is impermissible to supplicate Allaah The Almighty to grant him any worldly benefits, like wealth, children or health; otherwise, it is permissible. This is supported by the fact that it is permissible for the Muslim to console the disbeliever, if a neighbor, when he is undergoing any adversity by supplicating Allaah The Almighty to compensate him for his loss.
Allaah Knows best.