man for whom his brother supplicates in his absence but Allah appoints an angel for that supplication. Whenever he supplicates for his brother, the angel says: ‘And may you have the same.’”

Among the prescribed forms of supplication is praying for another in his absence. Thus, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, instructed us to invoke blessings upon him and ask Allah to grant him al-wasīlah. He also told us of the reward we receive for making these supplications, saying in the hadith:

“When you hear the caller to prayer, repeat what he says, then invoke blessings upon me, for whoever invokes blessings upon me once, Allah will bless him ten times. Then ask Allah to grant me al-wasīlah, for it is a station in Paradise befitting only one of Allah’s servants, and I hope to be that servant. Whoever asks Allah to grant me al-wasīlah will be entitled to my intercession on the Day of Resurrection.”

It is prescribed for a Muslim to request supplication from someone of either higher or lower standing. Requests for supplication from both those above and those below have been reported. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, bade farewell to ‘Umar as he set out for ‘umrah and said:

“Do not forget us in your supplications, my brother.”

However, when he, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, instructed us to invoke blessings upon him and ask Allah to grant him al-wasīlah, he explained that whoever invokes blessings upon him once receives ten blessings from Allah in return, and that whoever asks for al-wasīlah for him will be entitled to his intercession on the Day of Resurrection. Thus, his request of us was for our benefit. There is a difference between someone who requests something from another for that person’s benefit and someone who asks another solely because he needs him.

It is also established in the Sahīh that he, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, mentioned Uways al-Qaranī and said to ‘Umar:

“If you can have him ask forgiveness for you, then do so.”