What is the ruling on making Dua for a specific person by his name during Prayer? حكم الدعاء لشخص معين

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.

As to what follows:

With regards to answering your question we say, success is by Allah Almighty.

The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed into many opinions with regards to making Dua for a specific person by mentioning his name during Prayer:

The majority of the scholars are of the view that it is permissible in both Fardh and Nafil Prayers. It is reported that a group of Salaf (predecessors) used to mention the name of the person who they were making Dua for during Prayer. This narration is found in Hanbali Madhab and affirmed by Ibn Hazim and others. In another narration Ahamd hold the view that it is only permissible for Nafl Prayer only and in another narration by him he holds the view that it is prohibited. A narration by Al-Nukhai and Ikrimah says it is detestable.

What is apparent to me from these views is that it is permissible to mention the name of the person that is being made Dua for during Prayer be it Fardh or Nafil Prayer because of the hadith narrated by Bukhari (804) and Muslim (675) on the authority of Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) who said:

“When Allah's Messenger (peace be on him) raised his head from (bowing) he used to say "Sami`a l-lahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa laka l-hamd." He would invoke Allah for some people by naming them:

“O Allah! Save Al-Walid bin Al-Walid, Salama bin Hisham, Iyash bin Abi Rabi`a, the weak and the helpless people among the faithful believers.”  [This is the wording of Bukhari.]

This permissibility is supported by a hadith narrated by Bukhari (835) and Muslim (402) on the authority of Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that after mentioning what a Muswalli shoud say in Tashahud, The Messenger of Allah (peace be on him ) said:

“Then let him choose any supplication that he likes to say after that.”

And in another narration the hadith says:

“Then he is free to choose whatever he wishes.”

This indicates that it is permissible for a person to supplicate to Allah using any (permissible) general, and specific, unrestricted, and restricted phrases which do not consist of severing ties of kinship, a sin, or transgression. The view that this is prohibited is not supported by evidence or a (valid) reason.

And Allah knows best.

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

13 / 11 / 1425 AH