Does Allah (Most High) Answer the Supplication of a Disbeliever?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti

Question

Does Allah answer the supplication of a disbeliever?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.

A supplication is an act of worship, and it cannot be performed by a disbeliever, nor is it accepted by him. However, Allah (Most High) may respond to a disbeliever’s supplication in this world in return for their good deeds, as a means of leading them on, or in response to the supplication of the oppressed if they are oppressed.

This is the view held by the majority of scholars, as evidenced by numerous noble verses and hadiths. And Allah knows best.

Explanation and Details

“Supplication is worship,” as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said. [Tirmidhi; Abu Dawud]

So worship cannot be performed by a disbeliever, nor is it accepted by him.

Before mentioning the scholars’ opinions on this matter, let us review the relevant texts from the Quran and Sunna:

Quran

Allah (Most High) says:

“Calling upon Him (alone) is the truth. But those (idols) the pagans invoke besides Him (can) never respond to them in any way. (It is) just like someone who stretches out their hands to water, (asking it) to reach their mouths, but it can never do so. The calls of the disbelievers are only in vain.” [Quran, 13:14]

The intended meaning of the verse, as explained by the commentators, is:

“This is a parable set by Allah; this person who calls upon an idol or a stone other than Allah will never be answered, just like one who stretches his arms towards the water to reach his mouth, but it will never reach him, and he will die of thirst.” [Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari]

Allah (Most High) says:

“One never tires of praying for good. And if touched with evil, they become desperate and hopeless. And if We let them taste a mercy from Us after being touched with adversity, they will certainly say, ‘This is what I deserve. I do not think the Hour will (ever) come. And if in fact I am returned to my Lord, the finest reward with Him will definitely be mine.’ But We will surely inform the disbelievers of what they used to do. And We will certainly make them taste a harsh torment.” [Quran, 41:49-50]

The meaning of the verse is that the disbeliever does not tire of praying for good things, such as wealth and health. “And if touched with evil, they become desperate and hopeless” means that he despairs of Allah’s mercy and relief, and from the possibility of the evil being lifted from him.

“And if We let them taste a mercy from Us after being touched with adversity…” means that if We relieve this disbeliever of the illness and hardship that had befallen him, he will say, “This is what I deserve,” meaning that Allah is pleased with me due to my actions. Allah responds by saying: “But We will surely inform the disbelievers of what they used to do. And We will certainly make them taste a harsh torment.” [Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabari]

Allah (Most High) says:

“Whenever someone is touched by hardship, they cry out to Us, whether lying on their side, sitting, or standing. But when We relieve their hardship, they return to their old ways as if they had never cried to Us to remove any hardship! This is how the misdeeds of the transgressors have been made appealing to them.” [Quran, 10:12]

The meaning is that when a person is afflicted with hardship and difficulty, he calls upon Us for relief… “But when We relieve their hardship, they return to their old ways as if they had never cried to Us to remove any hardship!,” meaning he returns to his previous state before the adversity touched him, without thanking his Lord, and he returns to associating partners with Allah and calling upon idols and stones as lords besides Him. [Tabari, Tafsir al-Tabiri]

These verses clearly indicate that Allah (Most High) may respond to the supplication of disbelievers.

Sunna

Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said:

“Indeed, when a disbeliever does a good deed, he is given a taste of its reward in this world, whereas the believer, Allah stores up his good deeds for him in the Hereafter and provides him with sustenance in this world due to his obedience.”

In another narration: “As for the disbeliever, he is given a taste of the rewards of the good deeds he did for the sake of Allah in this world, until he reaches the Hereafter where he will have no good deeds to be rewarded for.” [Muslim]

Therefore, scholars differentiate between supplication as an act of worship, for which a believer is rewarded, and supplication in the sense of asking for something, which may be granted to both believers and non-believers.

Accordingly, the majority of scholars hold that Allah (Most High) may answer the supplication of a disbeliever in this world as a means of leading them on or as a reward for their good deeds. [Rafi‘i, Fath al-‘Aziz bi-Sharh al-Wajiz; Ibn Hajar, al-Talkhis al-Habir; Tahtawi, Hashiyat al-Tahawi ‘ala Maraqi al-Falah; Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Opinion of Scholars

Here are some texts on the matter:

Bujayrami says:

“His saying: (And He may answer them) explicitly indicates that the supplication of a disbeliever is answered, which is the preferred view… A branch: There is a disagreement regarding the acceptance of a disbeliever’s supplication.

Ruwayani said in Al-Bahr: It is not permissible to say ‘Amin’ to his supplication because it is not accepted. Allah (Most High) said:

‘The prayer of the disbelievers is only in vain.’ [Quran, 40:50]

Others said that it is answered, and the supplication of Iblis was answered when he said:

‘Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.’ [Quran, 7:14]

It is clear that the disagreement is about the response in the sense of granting the request, and thus what their explicit statements and others indicate is that the disbeliever may be given his request as a form of leading him on, such as what happened with Iblis. As for acceptance in the sense of being rewarded for it, this is definitely negated, and this is the context of the mentioned verse, and there is no dispute about this.” [Bujayrami, Tuhfat al-Habib ‘ala Sharh al-Khatib]

Imam Ramli was asked about the supplication of a disbeliever if he is oppressed, whether it is answered or not. He answered that his supplication might be answered, as the supplication of Iblis was answered for respite. [Ramli, Fatawa al-Ramli]

Dr. Zuhayli says:

“The majority (of scholars) said that the people of the covenant (Ahl al-Dhimma) are not prevented from going out with Muslims for rain-seeking prayers, but their supplication is not said ‘Amin’ to because the supplication of a disbeliever is not accepted. Their presence is not prevented because they seek sustenance from their Lord, and Allah’s grace is vast. He may answer them as a form of leading them on or as a provision in this world. Allah (Most High) said:

“We will gradually draw them to destruction in ways they cannot comprehend.” [Quran, 7:128]

And Allah has guaranteed their sustenance in this world as He has guaranteed the sustenance of believers.” [Zuhayli, al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh]

Some scholars argued that the supplication of a disbeliever is not answered, citing the literal meaning of the word “dua” in the verse:

“The calls (dua) of the disbelievers are only in vain.” [Quran, 13:14]

Imam Tirmidhi says:

“The disbeliever who supplicates is like one who stretches his hands to water to reach his mouth, but it will never reach it, meaning the supplication of a disbeliever is not answered just as water will not reach the one who stretches his hands to it. Allah (Most High) said: “The calls (dua) of the disbelievers are only in vain.” [Quran, 13:14] [Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Amthal min al-Kitab wa al-Sunna]

This interpretation differs from what the commentators have stated and, therefore, cannot be used as evidence here.

Ibn Badis says: “It has been explained that the intended meaning of the disbelievers’ supplication is their worship and supplication to their idols. As for the supplication of a disbeliever, if he is oppressed, it is answered like the supplication of any oppressed person because Allah (Most High) has forbidden oppression from anyone against anyone.” [Ibn Badis, Kitab Athar]

Summary

This is clarified by the noble verses:

Allah (Most High) says:

“Whoever desires this fleeting world (alone), We hasten in it whatever We please to whoever We will; then We destine them for Hell, where they will burn, condemned and rejected. But whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it accordingly, and is a (true) believer, it is they whose striving will be appreciated.” [Quran, 17:18-20]

So, Allah (Most High) gives and provides in this world to both those He loves and those He does not love, to both the believer and the disbeliever. However, the Hereafter is given only to those He loves, and they are the believers.

O Allah! make us among those whom You love, who have faith, and who are destined for Paradise.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, his Family, and all his Companions.

Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti