It is also related in the two Sahīh collections that a disagreement arose between Abū Bakr and ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, and Abū Bakr said to ‘Umar, “Ask forgiveness for me.” However, the hadith mentions that Abū Bakr acknowledged having become angry with ‘Umar. It is also established that some people asked to have healing prayers recited over them, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, would recite over them.

It is established in the two Sahīh collections that:

“When the people suffered drought, they asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, to pray for rain for them. He supplicated to Allah for them, and they were given rain.”

It is also related in the two Sahīh collections that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, sought rain through al-‘Abbās, supplicating:

“O Allah, when we suffered drought, we would seek to draw near to You through our Prophet, and You would grant us rain. Now we seek to draw near to You through our Prophet’s uncle, so grant us rain.”

They would then be given rain.

It is related in the Sunan collections that a Bedouin said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace:

“People are suffering hardship, dependants are starving, and wealth has been lost. So supplicate to Allah for us, for we seek Allah’s intercession with you, and your intercession with Allah.”

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, then glorified Allah until this was reflected in his Companions’ faces. He said:

“Woe to you! Allah is not sought as an intercessor with any of His creation. Allah’s majesty is far greater than that.”

Thus, he approved his statement, “We seek your intercession with Allah,” but rejected his statement, “We seek Allah’s intercession with you.” This is because an intercessor makes a request of the one whose favour is sought. The servant asks his Lord and seeks intercession with Him, whereas the Lord, Most High, neither asks the servant nor seeks his intercession.

As for “prescribed grave visitation,” it consists of greeting the deceased and supplicating for him, much like offering the funeral prayer for him, just as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family and grant him peace, used to