Thus, supplication for another benefits both the one who supplicates and the one for whom he supplicates, even if the former is of a lower rank than the latter. A believer’s supplication for his brother benefits them both. Whoever says to another, “Supplicate for me,” intending that they both benefit, is cooperating with his brother in righteousness and piety. He has drawn the other person’s attention to something beneficial to them both and encouraged him to do it, while the person asked has done what benefits them both. This is like someone who instructs another to act with righteousness and piety: the one instructed is rewarded for his action, and the one who instructed him receives an equal reward for having encouraged it. This is especially so since some supplications are commanded of the servant, as Allah Most High says:

“And seek forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women.”

He thus commanded him to seek forgiveness. He also said:

“If, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you and sought Allah’s forgiveness, and the Messenger had sought forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah ever accepting of repentance, Most Merciful.”

Allah—glorified is He—mentioned both their seeking forgiveness and the Messenger’s seeking forgiveness for them, since this was something the Messenger had been commanded to do: He commanded him to seek forgiveness for the believing men and believing women. Allah has not commanded any created being to ask another created being for something that He has not commanded the latter to do. Rather, whatever Allah commands His servant to do, whether as an obligation or a recommendation, constitutes worship of Allah, obedience to Him, a means of drawing near to Him, a benefit to the one who performs it, and a good deed on his part. When he does so, Allah’s kindness and favor toward him are all the greater.

Indeed, the greatest blessing Allah has bestowed upon His servants is His guiding them to faith. Faith consists of speech and action, and it increases through obedience and good deeds. The more good the servant does, the more his faith increases.

This is the true bestowal of favor mentioned in His words:

“The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your favor,”

and in His words:

“Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favor.”

Indeed, are worldly blessings without religion counted among His blessings or not? There are two well-known views on this among the scholars of our school and others.