What is the ruling on making du'a' for the Shaykh before asking him?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : May Allah reward you. The Shaykh said: Greeting before asking is not the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them).
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So, do we say such a du'a' before asking, like saying: "May Allah reward you," or something similar?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the greeting, it is a distinct recommended practice (sunnah); you greet the person you meet, so it is a distinct recommended practice. As for making du'a' for the one being asked, it falls under the category of reward, because the one who answers you has actually done you a favor. Even if he has also done a favor to himself, it is a reward given in advance as cash. So if you say, "May Allah reward you," there is nothing wrong with that. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, no, in order, my brother. The questions in order. Yes, I am speaking about the last one. Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : So, do we say such a du'a' before asking, like saying: "May Allah reward you," or something similar?
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the greeting, it is a distinct recommended practice (sunnah); you greet the person you meet, so it is a distinct recommended practice. As for making du'a' for the one being asked, it falls under the category of reward, because the one who answers you has actually done you a favor. Even if he has also done a favor to himself, it is a reward given in advance as cash. So if you say, "May Allah reward you," there is nothing wrong with that. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh.
The Shaykh : No, no, in order, my brother. The questions in order. Yes, I am speaking about the last one. Yes.