makes du’a for himself, he should include all the people of Islam with him (this means to pray for all Muslim men and women).”^[1]

The Reviver of Islam and Imam of the Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Aḥmad Razā Khān رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explains this etiquette in further detail (the summary of which is as follows), “The wisdom behind making duʿā for every Muslim is that if the asker is not suitable to have his duʿā accepted, he will reach his goal for the sake of the Muslims at large.”

The renowned Tābiʿi, Thābit Bunāni رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْهreports:

It was once mentioned to us that whoever prayed for the good of Muslim men and women will pass by them on the Day of Judgement. When he does, a voice will announce, “This is the person who made duʿā for your betterment in the world.” The Muslims he prayed for will intercede for him and take him to Paradise alongside them.^[2]

It is mentioned in a hadith, “The salah in which duʿā is not made for Muslim men and women is defective.”^[3]

A person once made duʿā by saying اَللّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْلِی -“O Allah! Forgive me”. The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم heard this and declared, “If you had made this general (meaning, if you had prayed for other Muslims also), your duʿā would have been accepted.”^[4]

The final Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also said, “Whosoever makes duʿā for the forgiveness of every Muslim man and woman, Allah will grant him a good deed for every Muslim man and woman he prayed for.”^[5]