this virtue is attained. If he supplicates for all Muslims, it appears that he attains this virtue as well. When some of the early Muslims wished to supplicate for themselves, they would make that same supplication for their Muslim brother, because it would be answered and they would receive the same.”1.

All that has preceded most emphatically demonstrates the importance of supplicating for the Muslims to receive forgiveness, mercy, and the like. Every Muslim should therefore supplicate abundantly for his brothers so that he may attain those noble rewards and immense virtues. One of the interesting reports that may be cited in support of this is that narrated by Abū Nuaym in Hilyat al-Awliyā from Ahmad ibn al-Dahhāk al-Khashshāb, who said: “In a dream, I saw Shurayh ibn Yūnus and asked him, ‘How did your Lord deal with you, Abū al-Hārith?’ He replied, ‘He forgave me and, moreover, placed my palace beside the palace of Muhammad ibn Bashīr ibn Atā al-Kindī.’ I said, ‘Abū al-Hārith, we regarded you as greater than Muhammad ibn Bashīr.’ He replied, ‘Do not say that, for Allah Most High granted Muhammad ibn Bashīr a share in the deeds of every believing man and woman, because whenever he supplicated, he would say: “O Allah, forgive me, the believing men and women, and the Muslim men and women.”’”2.

We therefore ask Allah, the Most Generous, to forgive us, our parents, the Muslim men and women, and the believing men and women—the living and the dead.