How to Pray for Our Muslim Brothers and Sisters
We have compiled hadiths and prayers from Allah’s friends regarding how we should pray for our Muslim brothers and sisters. These prayers can be a source of hope and healing, especially for oppressed and distressed Muslims.
THE MOST BELOVED PRAYER IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH
The Messenger of Allah –peace and blessings be upon him– said in a hadith:
“There is no supplication more beloved to Allah than [that] the servant says:
اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ رَحْمَةً عَامَّةً
“O Allah, have mercy on the Ummah of Muhammad with a general mercy!” (Ali al-Muttaqi, no: 3212, 3702)
A HASANA FOR EVERY BELIEVER
The Messenger of Allah –peace and blessings be upon him– said:
“Whoever seeks forgiveness on behalf of all the believers, Allah will write a hasana (good deed) for him for every believer.” (Heysemi, X, 210)
PRAYER INSTEAD OF CHARITY
The Messenger of Allah –peace and blessings be upon him– said:
“Whoever cannot find something to give in charity, let him say in his supplication:
‘O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family, and send blessings/mercy upon the believing men and women, and the Muslim men and women!’ This is sufficient for him as a substitute for charity.’ (Ibn Hibban, Sahih, no: 903; Bukhari, al-Adab al-mufrad, no: 640)
The Messenger of Allah –peace and blessings be upon him– said:
“Allah the Exalted says:
‘If My servants ask Me for mercy to those who are created, I will have mercy on them!’.” (Qimam al-Sunnah, at-Targhib wa’t-tarhib, II, 277/1581)
Sa’ib bin Yazid (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
During a year of famine, I saw Hz. Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) wearing a garment that had as many as sixteen patches… He used to say:
“O Allah! Do not destroy the Ummah of Muhammad because of me!” (Ibn-i Saad, III, 320)
A PRAYER THAT WILL WRITE ONE AMONG THE FRIENDS OF ALLAH
Maruf Karkhi (may Allah have mercy on him) also said:
“Whoever says ten times every day:
اَللّٰهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ اَللّٰهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ أُمَّةِ مُحَّمَّدٍ اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْحَمْ أَمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ
“O Allah, rectify the condition of the Ummah of Muhammad! O Allah, relieve the distress of the Ummah of Muhammad! O Allah, have mercy on the Ummah of Muhammad” he will be written among the Abdal (friends of Allah). (Abu Nuaym, Hilyah, VIII, 366)
Ahmed bin Dahhak narrated: I saw in a dream Shurayh bin Yunus and said to him:
“How did your Lord treat you?” He said:
“He forgave me and made my palace next to the palace of Muhammad bin Bashir as a favor.” I was amazed and said:
“But you were more superior and valuable than Muhammad bin Bashir among us?!” He said:
“Do not say that! Allah has given him a share from the deeds of all believers. For he used to pray:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ وَالْكَائِنِينَ مِنْهُمْ
“O my Lord, forgive the believing men and women, and the Muslim men and women, and those who come from them!” (Abu Nuaym, Hilyah, X, 113)
THE PRAYER OF THE FRIENDS OF ALLAH FOR THE UMMAH OF MUHAMMAD
Therefore, the friends of Allah, in their prayers, always thought of the Ummah of Muhammad and sought refuge in the following manner:
- اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ أُمَّة مُحَّمَّدٍ
- اَللّٰهُمَّ ارْحَمْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ
- اَللّٰهُمَّ انْصُرْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ
- اَللّٰهُمَّ احْفَظْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ
- اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْمَعْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ
- اَللّٰهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ أُمَّةَ مُحَّمَّدٍ
- اَللّٰهُمَّ فَرِّجْ عَنْ أُمَّة مُحَّمَّدٍ
- O Allah! Forgive the Ummah of Muhammad!
- O Allah! Have mercy on the Ummah of Muhammad!
- O Allah! Grant victory to the Ummah of Muhammad!
- O Allah! Protect the Ummah of Muhammad!
- O Allah! Bring together the Ummah of Muhammad and make them one body!
- O Allah! Rectify the condition of the Ummah of Muhammad!
- O Allah! Relieve the distress of the Ummah of Muhammad! (See Abu Nuaym, Hilyah, VIII, 366; Ibn-i Asakir, Tarikh Dimashq, XXXIX, 402)