loses none of his knowledge by answering; rather, his knowledge increases through answering, while the questioner needs the answer. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Why did they not ask when they did not know? The cure for ignorance is to ask.”

Some questions, however, are forbidden, as Allah Most High said:

“Do not ask about things…”—to the end of the verse.

Likewise, he forbade trick questions and the like.

As for asking someone else to supplicate for him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to ‘Umar:

“Do not forget us in your supplications.”

He also said:

“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 rank 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 may be said in this regard that he asked the Muslim community to supplicate for him because, by supplicating for him, they would receive a greater reward than if they supplicated for themselves. Thus, when someone asked him, “Shall I devote all my supplication to invoking blessings upon you?” he replied:

“Then Allah will take care of whatever concerns you in the affairs of this world and the Hereafter.”

His asking them to supplicate for him is therefore for their benefit, just like the other commands he gives them in accordance with what he has been commanded, because these are for their benefit. Indeed, it is authentically reported that he said:

“Whenever a man supplicates for his brother in his absence, Allah appoints an angel for him. Every time he offers a supplication, the appointed angel says, ‘Amen, and may you receive the same.’”