Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
- Muslims are allowed and even recommended to make dua for living non-Muslim relatives, neighbors, and friends.
- Muslims can make dua for their health, well-being and guidance.
Answering your question, Dr. Wael Shehab, PhD in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University and currently the Imam of the Downtown Toronto Masjid in Canada, states:
A Muslim is ordained to be just, fair, kind, and friendly with all people, irrespective of their faiths, cultures, and races.
Therefore, Muslims are certainly allowed and even recommended to make dua for living non-Muslim relatives, neighbors, and friends. We, Muslims, can pray for their health, well-being and guidance.
The most important prayer that we can do for them is to pray for their guidance to the straight path. We must do so on a continuous basis.
Muslims are to maintain good social and friendly relations with all people. Caring for the poor, the needy, and helpless is recommended for all.
Islamic universal values such as justice, kindness, mercy, etc., are meant to please all people, Muslims and non-Muslims.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.