The Ruling on Praying on Behalf of an Absent Person in al-Rawdah

Question:
This questioner says: My master, the Shaykh, is it permissible to pray in al-Rawdah for an absent living person, because some people entrust us with the responsibility of praying two rak'ahs for them in al-Rawdah? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
No one prays on behalf of another; this has no basis. No one prays on behalf of another. You pray only for yourself in al-Rawdah in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, and likewise in all the mosques where they call the area behind the imam al-Rawdah. A person prays for himself. Al-Rawdah in the Prophet’s Mosque is well known to be between the house and the pulpit; it is called al-Rawdah. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stated that it is a garden from the gardens of Paradise, . So praying in it has virtue and reward, but no one prays on behalf of another. If he visits al-Madinah, he prays the sunnah for himself in it. Likewise, praying behind the imam in every mosque, and hastening to the first row and to the front of the row, has virtue and reward in it.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good,