HADITH OF THE DAY
Praying for enemies in Islam
By Abu Amina Elias
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
It was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ to supplicate and pray to Allah to guide his enemies of Islam and to benefit them in the Hereafter. Islam teaches us to love for others what we love for ourselves. Each one of us wants to be guided and, therefore, we should ask Allah to guide others even if they are unbelievers, sinners, or oppressors.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, tell the story of a prophet who was beaten by his people and he wiped the blood from his face, saying:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
My Lord, forgive my people for they do not know.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6530, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ himself said this prayer after being attacked and harmed during the battle of Uhud:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
O Allah, forgive my people for they do not know.
Abu Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
يَعْنِي هَذَا الدُّعَاءُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ لَمَّا شُجَّ وَجْهُهُ
The Prophet said this supplication during the battle of Uhud when they slashed his face.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 985, Grade: Sahih
This incident demonstrates the Prophet’s ﷺ strict adherence to ethical virtues despite enduring persecution at the hands of unbelievers.
An-Nawawi comments on this tradition, saying:
فِيهِ مَا كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَسَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْحِلْمِ وَالتَّصَبُّرِ وَالْعَفْوِ وَالشَّفَقَةِ عَلَى قَوْمِهِمْ وَدُعَائِهِمْ لَهُمْ بِالْهِدَايَةِ وَالْغُفْرَانِ وَعُذْرِهِمْ فِي جِنَايَتِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
In this tradition is what the Prophet practiced of forbearance, patience, forgiveness, and compassion for his people, his supplication for them to receive guidance and to be forgiven, and for them to be excused for their sins as they did not know.
Source: Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1792
On several occasions, the companions asked the Prophet ﷺ to supplicate against the enemies of Islam, the very same people who threatened them, hurt them, and caused great suffering. He refused to condemn his enemies to the Hellfire in the hope that one day they might see the light.
Abu Huraira reported: At-Tufail came with his companions and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, the tribe of Daws has disbelieved and rejected you, so pray to Allah against them.” And it was said, “May the tribe of Daws be destroyed!” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ دَوْسًا وَائْتِ بِهِمْ
O Allah, guide the tribe of Daws and bring them to me.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4131, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, pray against the idolaters!” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنِّي لَمْ أُبْعَثْ لَعَّانًا وَإِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ رَحْمَةً
Verily, I was not sent to invoke curses, but rather I was only sent as mercy.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2599, Grade: Sahih
Jabir reported: It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, the arrows of the tribe of Thaqīf have pierced us, so pray against them!” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ ثَقِيفًا
O Allah, guide the tribe of Thaqīf!
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3942, Grade: Sahih
In one of the most famous examples, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for Allah to guide Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, who at the time was a powerful enemy of Islam.
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بِأَحَبِّ هَذَيْنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ إِلَيْكَ بِأَبِي جَهْلٍ أَوْ بِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ
O Allah, strengthen Islam with one of two men whom you love more: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn Al-Khattab.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3681, Grade: Sahih
Because of the Prophet’s supplication, Umar went on to become one of the greatest of the early Muslims and a role model for the entire Muslim community.
In another story, the Prophet ﷺ was violently rejected by the people of Al-Ṭā’if. They mocked him and ran him out of the city whilst pelting him with stones, to the point that blood soaked his sandals. In this moment, Allah sent to the Angel of the Mountains to him with a choice: If he desired, he could overturn the mountains upon the entire city and destroy all of its inhabitants. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, refused the request, saying:
بَلْ أَرْجُو أَنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَصْلاَبِهِمْ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا
No, rather I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone without associating partners with him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3059, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
By Abu Amina Elias
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
It was the practice of the Prophet ﷺ to supplicate and pray to Allah to guide his enemies of Islam and to benefit them in the Hereafter. Islam teaches us to love for others what we love for ourselves. Each one of us wants to be guided and, therefore, we should ask Allah to guide others even if they are unbelievers, sinners, or oppressors.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, tell the story of a prophet who was beaten by his people and he wiped the blood from his face, saying:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
My Lord, forgive my people for they do not know.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6530, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ himself said this prayer after being attacked and harmed during the battle of Uhud:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِقَوْمِي فَإِنَّهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ
O Allah, forgive my people for they do not know.
Abu Hatim, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
يَعْنِي هَذَا الدُّعَاءُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَوْمَ أُحُدٍ لَمَّا شُجَّ وَجْهُهُ
The Prophet said this supplication during the battle of Uhud when they slashed his face.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 985, Grade: Sahih
This incident demonstrates the Prophet’s ﷺ strict adherence to ethical virtues despite enduring persecution at the hands of unbelievers.
An-Nawawi comments on this tradition, saying:
فِيهِ مَا كَانُوا عَلَيْهِ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ وَسَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْحِلْمِ وَالتَّصَبُّرِ وَالْعَفْوِ وَالشَّفَقَةِ عَلَى قَوْمِهِمْ وَدُعَائِهِمْ لَهُمْ بِالْهِدَايَةِ وَالْغُفْرَانِ وَعُذْرِهِمْ فِي جِنَايَتِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
In this tradition is what the Prophet practiced of forbearance, patience, forgiveness, and compassion for his people, his supplication for them to receive guidance and to be forgiven, and for them to be excused for their sins as they did not know.
Source: Sharḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1792
On several occasions, the companions asked the Prophet ﷺ to supplicate against the enemies of Islam, the very same people who threatened them, hurt them, and caused great suffering. He refused to condemn his enemies to the Hellfire in the hope that one day they might see the light.
Abu Huraira reported: At-Tufail came with his companions and they said, “O Messenger of Allah, the tribe of Daws has disbelieved and rejected you, so pray to Allah against them.” And it was said, “May the tribe of Daws be destroyed!” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ دَوْسًا وَائْتِ بِهِمْ
O Allah, guide the tribe of Daws and bring them to me.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 4131, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, pray against the idolaters!” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِنِّي لَمْ أُبْعَثْ لَعَّانًا وَإِنَّمَا بُعِثْتُ رَحْمَةً
Verily, I was not sent to invoke curses, but rather I was only sent as mercy.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2599, Grade: Sahih
Jabir reported: It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, the arrows of the tribe of Thaqīf have pierced us, so pray against them!” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ ثَقِيفًا
O Allah, guide the tribe of Thaqīf!
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3942, Grade: Sahih
In one of the most famous examples, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for Allah to guide Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, who at the time was a powerful enemy of Islam.
Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بِأَحَبِّ هَذَيْنِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ إِلَيْكَ بِأَبِي جَهْلٍ أَوْ بِعُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ
O Allah, strengthen Islam with one of two men whom you love more: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn Al-Khattab.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3681, Grade: Sahih
Because of the Prophet’s supplication, Umar went on to become one of the greatest of the early Muslims and a role model for the entire Muslim community.
In another story, the Prophet ﷺ was violently rejected by the people of Al-Ṭā’if. They mocked him and ran him out of the city whilst pelting him with stones, to the point that blood soaked his sandals. In this moment, Allah sent to the Angel of the Mountains to him with a choice: If he desired, he could overturn the mountains upon the entire city and destroy all of its inhabitants. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, refused the request, saying:
بَلْ أَرْجُو أَنْ يُخْرِجَ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَصْلاَبِهِمْ مَنْ يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ لاَ يُشْرِكُ بِهِ شَيْئًا
No, rather I hope that Allah will bring from their descendants people who will worship Allah alone without associating partners with him.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3059, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
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