Is it permissible to bequeath to one who goes to the Prophet's City to greet the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as many people do?
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The questioner : The questioner asks: Is it permissible to bequeath to one who goes to the Prophet's City?
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Is it permissible to bequeath to one who goes to the Prophet's City to greet the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as many people do?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for one to bequeath to someone to greet the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him), on the condition that he finds the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the mosque praying, because conveying greetings is to the living, not to the dead.
And we say to this brother who bequeathed to another to greet the Messenger: We say that the angels convey your greeting to the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) in any place. Which is more trustworthy, the angels or this man to whom the bequest was made? The angels, because the angels convey the greeting at the time, and the angels are more careful in preserving the greeting than this man. This man might die before he reaches the City. This man might forget. This man might commit to greeting the Messenger, but it may occur to him not to greet, and then he leaves off the act of the bequest. Therefore, we say: O my brother, be patient, do not bequeath to anyone to greet the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) for you. But there are angels who convey your greeting to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in any place you are, even if you are in the farthest of lands. And I inform you that if a person says in the prayer, "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings," that this is conveyed to the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him). It is conveyed to the Messenger that so-and-so greeted you. Who conveys it? The angels, who are the most careful of people in preserving trust; they are the most careful of creation in preserving trust. So do not burden yourself, and do not burden others. But if someone asks: Is it permissible for a person to bequeath to someone to greet another, and say, "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me"? Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Is it permissible, and is it obligatory for the one to whom the bequest was made to carry it out, or is it not obligatory?
The scholars said there is a detail in this: If the one to whom the bequest was made committed to it, it is obligatory for him to carry it out, because this is a trust.
And if he did not commit to it but remained silent, it is not obligatory for him. And this happens often, when one says, "Greet so-and-so for me," and he remains silent. This is not a commitment. When people are bequeathed to greet so-and-so, either they say no, or they say yes, or they remain silent. If he says no, there is no obligation. "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me," he says no, there is no obligation. "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me," he says yes, it is obligatory for you. "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me," he remains silent, it is not obligatory for him, it is not obligatory for him. Now, is it befitting for a person to say to someone, "Greet so-and-so for me," and obligate him with what is difficult for him?
The answer: No. But if you wish to do something like this, say, "O so-and-so, greet for me whoever asked about me. Greet for me whoever asked about me." When they ask about him, he remembers. If they say, "How is so-and-so?" he hopes it is good, he says yes, and he greets you. And this is good. Meaning, it is very good for a person to bequeath to someone and say, "Greet for me whoever asked about me." This is very good, because the one to whom the bequest was made, when asked about him, says, "Yes, he is well, and he greets you." This is better than if he says, "He is well," and does not say, "He greets you." Because if a person says he is well and greets you, he is pleased with that. Yes.
If a man bequeaths to you to make supplication for him? We mentioned a little while ago that the preferable thing is for him to make supplication himself and not bequeath. But if I said yes, if I said yes, know that you make supplication for him in the prayer two or three times. You make supplication for him in the prayer two or three times if he is worthy of the description, if he is among the righteous. So you say in every prayer "Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah" and you also say "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad". The family of Muhammad are his followers in his religion. Look at how Islam and faith are preferred. All Muslims make supplication for one another in their saying "Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah" and their saying "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad". Because the family of Muhammad are those who believe in him. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. Yes, the time has ended. Now, Glory be to You, O our Lord, and praise. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.
The Shaykh : What?
The questioner : Is it permissible to bequeath to one who goes to the Prophet's City to greet the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), as many people do?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is permissible for one to bequeath to someone to greet the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him), on the condition that he finds the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the mosque praying, because conveying greetings is to the living, not to the dead.
And we say to this brother who bequeathed to another to greet the Messenger: We say that the angels convey your greeting to the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) in any place. Which is more trustworthy, the angels or this man to whom the bequest was made? The angels, because the angels convey the greeting at the time, and the angels are more careful in preserving the greeting than this man. This man might die before he reaches the City. This man might forget. This man might commit to greeting the Messenger, but it may occur to him not to greet, and then he leaves off the act of the bequest. Therefore, we say: O my brother, be patient, do not bequeath to anyone to greet the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) for you. But there are angels who convey your greeting to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) in any place you are, even if you are in the farthest of lands. And I inform you that if a person says in the prayer, "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings," that this is conveyed to the Messenger (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him). It is conveyed to the Messenger that so-and-so greeted you. Who conveys it? The angels, who are the most careful of people in preserving trust; they are the most careful of creation in preserving trust. So do not burden yourself, and do not burden others. But if someone asks: Is it permissible for a person to bequeath to someone to greet another, and say, "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me"? Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Is it permissible, and is it obligatory for the one to whom the bequest was made to carry it out, or is it not obligatory?
The scholars said there is a detail in this: If the one to whom the bequest was made committed to it, it is obligatory for him to carry it out, because this is a trust.
And if he did not commit to it but remained silent, it is not obligatory for him. And this happens often, when one says, "Greet so-and-so for me," and he remains silent. This is not a commitment. When people are bequeathed to greet so-and-so, either they say no, or they say yes, or they remain silent. If he says no, there is no obligation. "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me," he says no, there is no obligation. "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me," he says yes, it is obligatory for you. "O so-and-so, greet so-and-so for me," he remains silent, it is not obligatory for him, it is not obligatory for him. Now, is it befitting for a person to say to someone, "Greet so-and-so for me," and obligate him with what is difficult for him?
The answer: No. But if you wish to do something like this, say, "O so-and-so, greet for me whoever asked about me. Greet for me whoever asked about me." When they ask about him, he remembers. If they say, "How is so-and-so?" he hopes it is good, he says yes, and he greets you. And this is good. Meaning, it is very good for a person to bequeath to someone and say, "Greet for me whoever asked about me." This is very good, because the one to whom the bequest was made, when asked about him, says, "Yes, he is well, and he greets you." This is better than if he says, "He is well," and does not say, "He greets you." Because if a person says he is well and greets you, he is pleased with that. Yes.
If a man bequeaths to you to make supplication for him? We mentioned a little while ago that the preferable thing is for him to make supplication himself and not bequeath. But if I said yes, if I said yes, know that you make supplication for him in the prayer two or three times. You make supplication for him in the prayer two or three times if he is worthy of the description, if he is among the righteous. So you say in every prayer "Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah" and you also say "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad". The family of Muhammad are his followers in his religion. Look at how Islam and faith are preferred. All Muslims make supplication for one another in their saying "Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah" and their saying "O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad". Because the family of Muhammad are those who believe in him. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. Yes, the time has ended. Now, Glory be to You, O our Lord, and praise. I testify that there is no god but You. I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You.