who neither ask others for ruqyah (protective incantation), nor submit to cauterisation, nor take evil omens, and they place their trust in their Lord.”

Seeking ruqyah—called istirqaʾ—is to request another person to recite a healing supplication; it is one kind of duʿāʾ (prayer). Even so, it is authentically related that he, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said:

“Whenever a man prays for his brother in his absence, Allah appoints an angel; each time he supplicates for his brother, the angel says, ‘And for you the like.’”

Part of the prescribed etiquette of prayer is that an absent worshipper supplicates for another who is absent. For that reason the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him and his family peace—commanded us to invoke blessings upon him and to ask that he be granted al-Wasīlah, and he informed us of the reward that awaits us for doing so. He said in the hadith:

“When you hear the muʾadhdhin, repeat what he says; then send blessings upon me, for whoever invokes one blessing upon me, Allah will bless him ten times. Thereafter ask Allah to grant me al-Wasīlah, for it is a rank in Paradise that is fitting for only one servant of Allah, and I hope that I shall be…”