Dua for disbelievers

Question;

Assalamu Alaykum, which type of supplication can we not make for a disbeliever and which type of supplication can we make for a disbeliever?

Answer:

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious the most Merciful, 

Wa alaikum Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

We absolutely cannot supplicate for the forgiveness and salvation of a disbeliever, however, there is no problem in supplicating for the guidance of a disbeliever [to Islam]. Just as it is stated in al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah,

“وَلَا يَدْعُو لِلذِّمِّيِّ بِالْمَغْفِرَةِ وَلَوْ دَعَا لَهُ بِالْهُدَى جَازَ لِأَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ قَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ قَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ كَذَا فِي التَّبْيِينِ“

“One should not supplicate for the forgiveness of a non-Muslim citizen (dhimmī), and if one supplicated for his guidance then that is permissible because the Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم supplicated, ‘O Allāh, guide my people because they do not know’, it is mentioned as such in al-Tabyīn.”

[al-Fatāwā al-Hindiyyah, vol 5, pg 348]

Sayyidunā Tufayl ibn ‘Amr al-Dawsī (may Allāh be pleased with him) complained about his people and said, “O Messenger of Allāh ﷻ supplicate against Daws”, so the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم supplicated,

“اللّٰھم اھد دَوساً وآت بھم”

 “O Allāh, guide Daws and bring them to me.”

[Sahīh al-Bukhārī, vol 2, pg 291, Hadīth 2937]

Similarly, many Muslims were martyred by the rocks hurled at them by Thaqīf. The Sahābah (may Allāh be pleased with them all) asked that the Prophet ﷻ supplicate against them but the Noble Prophet ﷻ supplicated,

“اَللّٰھُمَّ اھْدِ ثَقِیْفاً”

 “O Allāh, guide Thaqīf.”

[Sunan al-Tirmidhī, vol 5, pg 492, Hadīth 3968]

And Allah knows Best

Mufti Umer Farooq Saleem