Title: Can one request for dua to a person who is leaving for Hajj?

Question: Every one ends a dialogue by saying please offer dua for me. Is it right to say like this? If I do not offer dua for him is it a sin? Especially when someone goes for Hajj people throng him seeking him to supplicate for them. How can he do it for hundreds of people who want their difficulties resolved? Is embracing the Hajj going person compulsory or just hand shake is enough? Was it prevalent in the time of our Prophet (saws) to offer duas for others and did the companions did like this. I tell others that they must supplicate to Allah directly and not through me. Is it correct?

Answer ID: 155507Posted on: Aug 30, 2020

Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim !

(Fatwa: 182/227/SN=3/1439)

(a) According to Shariah, it is alright to request for dua to each other at the time of departure provided it is not just a formality and the person who is requested should remember in his dua the one who has requested. It is not mandatory to supplicate name by name for all those who have requested for dua rather it is enough to say that O Allah lots of people have requested me to supplicate, grant their lawful requirements. Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) requested Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) for dua when he was leaving for Umrah. But if the person (who is requested for dua) cannot supplicate for those who have requested for him due to some reasons then there is no sin on him. However, you should not say to people that “they must supplicate to Allah directly and not through me” as one should ask Allah directly but according to Shariah there is no harm if one requests others for supplicating Allah for him. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

إن أشرع الدعاء إجابه دعوة غائب لغائب .

Translation: The supplication which gets the quickest answer is that made by one distant Muslim for another.

It means that if someone supplicates for one in the absence of him then that supplication gets quicker answer as it is based on sincerity. (See Mirqat, Hadith No. 1980, Tohfa al-Almai, vol. 5, p. 319, Abu Dawood, No. 1495, Chapter al-Dua)

(b) It is not necessary to embrace one who is going for Hajj one can do musafaha only but if one embraced him then it is better.