Can I Supplicate for a Woman I Wasn’t Able to Marry?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Is it allowed to make dua for a person whom I had wanted to marry but we realised we were not compatible for each other and went our ways a few days ago? Is it okay that I make dua for her to gain happiness and be able to move on ?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, it is permissible to supplicate for any believer.

In fact, from the best of supplications are those made in secret for another person because such an action is inherently prophetic in nature, as attested to in the Qur’an itself.

Allah Most High said, relating the supplication of Prophet Ibrahim (Allah bless him and give him peace), “Lord, grant that I and my offspring may keep up the prayer. Our Lord, accept my request. Our Lord, forgive me, my parents, and the believers on the Day of Reckoning.” [14:40-41] And He Most High said, in relating the words of Prophet Nuh (Allah bless him and give him peace), “Lord, forgive me, my parents, and whoever enters my house as a believer. Forgive believing men and women but bring nothing but ruin down on the evildoers!” [71:28]

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) also informed us that an angel responds to the supplication for a fellow believer by saying “and may you have the like of it.” [Muslim]

[Nawawi, al-Adhkar (642)]

Please also see: Do I Have to Send Blessings on the Prophet for My Dua to Be Valid? and: Struggling to Have Children: Ten Key Etiquettes of Du’a

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.