you are able to have him seek forgiveness for you, then do so.” In the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections it is also reported that a disagreement once arose between Abū Bakr and ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with them both—so Abū Bakr said to ʿUmar, “Ask forgiveness for me.” The narration further notes that Abū Bakr acknowledged he had been angry with ʿUmar.

It is likewise established that “some people used to ask to have incantations recited over them, and the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him and his family—would recite for them.”

In the two Ṣaḥīḥs it is related that when the people were stricken by drought, they asked the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him and his family—to pray for rain on their behalf; he supplicated, and they were given rain.

The two Ṣaḥīḥs also record that ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb—may Allah be pleased with him—sought rain through al-ʿAbbās. He prayed:
“O Allah, we used to seek nearness to You by means of our Prophet and You would grant us rain; now we seek nearness to You by means of our Prophet’s uncle, so provide us with rain.” And they were given rain.

In the Sunan collections it is related that a Bedouin said to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him and his family—“Hardship has exhausted us…”