What is the importance of a believer’s supplication for another believer in their absence?
Among the accepted supplications is that which a believer makes for another believer in absentia. This is because the person making the supplication has no benefit or expectation from it. As a result, the individual becomes sincere and heartfelt. Supplications made without any expectation, purely out of concern for one’s believing brother/sister and to fulfill their needs, are accepted. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The supplication of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is answered. And when someone makes du’a (supplication) for his brother, another angel says, ‘May your du’a be answered and may the same thing happen to you.’” (Muslim, Zikir 87, 88; Ibn Majah, Manasik 5)
“There are two supplications that Allah does not obstruct: The supplication of an oppressed person, and the supplication one makes for his Muslim brother in his absence.” (Heysemi, Adiyah, 17, No: 17231)
“Two Muslims meet and shake hands; Allah accepts their supplications and forgives them while their hands are still clasped.” (Abu Ya’la, Zikr wa Dua, No: 4139)
These hadiths encourage believers to pray for one another in person and in absentia, and announce that these prayers will be accepted.