Can I make dua for other people, including non-Muslims?

The short answer

Yes. Making dua for others is a beloved Sunnah, and when you pray for a fellow Muslim in their absence an angel says "and the same for you". You may pray for non-Muslims to be guided, as the Prophet ﷺ did. The Quran only forbids asking forgiveness for those who clearly died upon shirk.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Explanation

The Prophet ﷺ said that whenever a believer supplicates for his brother behind his back, the angels say, "The same be for you too" 1. In another narration, the angel appointed to him says "Amen, and it is for you also" 2. So a secret dua for a friend is a gift that comes back to you.

The Quran is full of dua for others. The believers who came later pray: "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed" 3. Nuh (AS) prayed for his parents, for whoever entered his house a believer, and for all believing men and women 4. And we are taught to say for our parents: "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small" 5.

What about non-Muslims? When the tribe of Daws refused Islam and people asked the Prophet ﷺ to curse them, he instead said, "O Allah! Guide the tribe Of Daus and let them come to us" 6. When Abu Hurayrah came weeping because his mother had said something hurtful about the Prophet ﷺ, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for her guidance, and she accepted Islam that same day 7. So praying for the guidance of non-Muslim family and friends is part of the Sunnah.

The one limit is in the Quran: it is not for the believers "to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire" 8. Scholars understand this as referring to those who died upon shirk.

So make a habit: every day, name a few people in your dua. It softens your heart toward them, and the angels return it to you.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2732
    Sahih Muslim

    When a believer prays for his brother in his absence, the angels say "the same for you".

    Abu Dharr reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence) that the Angels do not say: The same be for you too

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عُمَرَ بْنِ حَفْصٍ الْوَكِيعِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَرِيزٍ، عَنْ أُمِّ الدَّرْدَاءِ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَا مِنْ عَبْدٍ مُسْلِمٍ يَدْعُو لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ إِلاَّ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2732b
    Sahih Muslim

    The appointed angel says "Amen, and it is for you also".

    Umm Darda' reported:My husband reported that he heard Allah's Mes- senger (ﷺ) as saying: He who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence), the Angel commissioned (for carrying supplication to his Lord) says: Amen, and it is for you also

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا النَّضْرُ بْنُ شُمَيْلٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ سَرْوَانَ، الْمُعَلِّمُ حَدَّثَنِي طَلْحَةُ بْنُ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَرِيزٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَتْنِي أُمُّ الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَتْ حَدَّثَنِي سَيِّدِي، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ مَنْ دَعَا لأَخِيهِ بِظَهْرِ الْغَيْبِ قَالَ الْمَلَكُ الْمُوَكَّلُ بِهِ آمِينَ وَلَكَ بِمِثْلٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Hashr · 59:10

    The believers pray for forgiveness for their brothers in faith and for hearts free of resentment.

    وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَلِإِخۡوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلۡإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجۡعَلۡ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلࣰّ ا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفࣱ رَّحِيمٌ ۝١٠

    And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful

  4. 4
    Quran Nooh · 71:28

    Nuh prayed for his parents and for all believing men and women.

    رَّبِّ ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيَّ وَلِمَن دَخَلَ بَيۡتِيَ مُؤۡمِنࣰ ا وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِۖ وَلَا تَزِدِ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ إِلَّا تَبَارَۢا ۝٢٨

    My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction

  5. 5
    Quran Al-Israa · 17:24

    Pray for your parents that Allah have mercy on them as they raised you.

    وَٱخۡفِضۡ لَهُمَا جَنَاحَ ٱلذُّلِّ مِنَ ٱلرَّحۡمَةِ وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱرۡحَمۡهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرࣰ ا ۝٢٤

    And lower to them the wing of humility out of mercy and say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small

  6. 6
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6397
    Sahih Bukhari

    Asked to curse the tribe of Daws, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for their guidance instead.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:at-Tufail bin `Amr came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! The tribe of Daus has disobeyed (Allah and His Apostle) and refused (to embrace Islam), therefore, invoke Allah's wrath for them." The people thought that the Prophet (ﷺ) would invoke Allah's wrath for them, but he said, "O Allah! Guide the tribe Of Daus and let them come to us

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَدِمَ الطُّفَيْلُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ دَوْسًا قَدْ عَصَتْ وَأَبَتْ، فَادْعُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهَا‏.‏ فَظَنَّ النَّاسُ أَنَّهُ يَدْعُو عَلَيْهِمْ، فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ دَوْسًا وَأْتِ بِهِمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2491
    Sahih Muslim

    The Prophet ﷺ prayed for the guidance of Abu Hurayrah's non-Muslim mother, and she embraced Islam.

    Abu Huraira reported:I invited my mother, who was a polytlieist, to Islam. I invited her one day and she said to me something about Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) which I hated. I came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) weeping and said: Allah's Messenger, I invited my mother to Islam but she did not accept (my invitation). I invited her today but she said to me something which I did not like. (Kindly) supplicate Allah that He may set the mother of Abu Huraira right. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Allah, set the mother of Abu Huraira on the right path. I came out quite pleased with the supplication of Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) and when I came near the door it was closed from within. My mother heard the noise of my footsteps and she said: Abu Huraira, just wait. And I heard the noise of falling of water. She took a bath and put on the shirt and quickly covered her head with a headdress and opened the door and then said: Abu Huraira, I bear witness to the fact that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His bondsman and His Messenger. He (Abu Huraira) said: I went back to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and (this time) I was shedding the tears of joy. I said: Allah's Messenger, be happy, for Allah has responded to your supplication and He has set on the right path the mother of Abu Huraira. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah, and extolled Him and uttered good words. I said: Allah's Messenger, supplicate to Allah so that He may instill love of mine and that of my mother too in the believing servants and let our hearts be filled with their love, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Allah, let there be love of these servants of yours, i.e. Abu Huraira and his mother, in the hearts of the believing servants and let their hearts be filled with the love of the believing servants. (Abu Huraira said: This prayer) was so well granted by Allah that no believer was ever born who heard of me and who saw me but did not love me

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ الْيَمَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عِكْرِمَةُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَدْعُو أُمِّي إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ وَهِيَ مُشْرِكَةٌ فَدَعَوْتُهَا يَوْمًا فَأَسْمَعَتْنِي فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَا أَكْرَهُ فَأَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا أَبْكِي قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَدْعُو أُمِّي إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَتَأْبَى عَلَىَّ فَدَعَوْتُهَا الْيَوْمَ فَأَسْمَعَتْنِي فِيكَ مَا أَكْرَهُ فَادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَهْدِيَ أُمَّ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ أُمَّ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَخَرَجْتُ مُسْتَبْشِرًا بِدَعْوَةِ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا جِئْتُ فَصِرْتُ إِلَى الْبَابِ فَإِذَا هُوَ مُجَافٌ فَسَمِعَتْ أُمِّي خَشْفَ قَدَمَىَّ فَقَالَتْ مَكَانَكَ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏ وَسَمِعْتُ خَضْخَضَةَ الْمَاءِ قَالَ - فَاغْتَسَلَتْ وَلَبِسَتْ دِرْعَهَا وَعَجِلَتْ عَنْ خِمَارِهَا فَفَتَحَتِ الْبَابَ ثُمَّ قَالَتْ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ - قَالَ - فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَأَنَا أَبْكِي مِنَ الْفَرَحِ - قَالَ - قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَبْشِرْ قَدِ اسْتَجَابَ اللَّهُ دَعْوَتَكَ وَهَدَى أُمَّ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَقَالَ خَيْرًا - قَالَ - قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُحَبِّبَنِي أَنَا وَأُمِّي إِلَى عِبَادِهِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَيُحَبِّبَهُمْ إِلَيْنَا - قَالَ - فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ اللَّهُمَّ حَبِّبْ عُبَيْدَكَ هَذَا - يَعْنِي أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ وَأُمَّهُ - إِلَى عِبَادِكَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَحَبِّبْ إِلَيْهِمُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَمَا خُلِقَ مُؤْمِنٌ يَسْمَعُ بِي وَلاَ يَرَانِي إِلاَّ أَحَبَّنِي ‏.‏

  8. 8
    Quran At-Tawba · 9:113

    Believers may not ask forgiveness for polytheists once it is clear they are people of the Fire.

    مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن يَسۡتَغۡفِرُواْ لِلۡمُشۡرِكِينَ وَلَوۡ كَانُوٓاْ أُوْلِي قُرۡبَىٰ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُمۡ أَصۡحَٰبُ ٱلۡجَحِيمِ ۝١١٣

    It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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