for an entire week. On the next Friday, another man—some said it was the same one—entered and exclaimed, “Messenger of Allah, our livestock are drowning and our buildings are collapsing; pray to Allah to withhold the rain from us.” The Prophet ﷺ raised his hands and said, “O Allah, around us and not upon us,” then began pointing toward the surrounding areas. Wherever he pointed, the clouds broke apart and drifted away until the people went out walking in bright sunlight.

Accordingly, if you ask a righteous person whose pleas are likely to be answered to make a general supplication for the Muslims, there is no harm in that, because you are not requesting anything for yourself. For example, should someone approach you seeking your intercession to rescue a distressed individual, settle his debt, or remove injustice from a weak Muslim, this is permissible, for the benefit accrues to someone else.

The second category is to request a righteous man’s supplication so that he himself benefits from turning to Allah, while you are not personally seeking any gain. Your intention is that the person you ask will resort to Allah, beseech Him, attach his heart to Him, and know that Allah is the Hearer of prayer. Provided your aim is the welfare of that man, this too is allowable, for you have not asked merely for your own advantage but for his. You wish that this righteous servant should increase in goodness through his supplication to Almighty Allah