What is the ruling on praying for the deceased who is absent?

Q: What is the ruling on praying for the deceased who is absent?

A: The well-known view is that it is specific to the Negus, and some scholars have permitted it if the deceased had a significant standing in Islam, or was a scholar active in da'wah and spreading knowledge, and he is absent, in which case one prays for him. However, it has not reached us that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for anyone other than the Negus, and no authentic path has come to us that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for anyone other than the Negus. Many of the Companions died in Makkah and elsewhere, and it is not established that he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed for them.
So the conclusion is that the statement of those who said it is specific has strength. And if one does that for someone who has a standing in Islam similar to the Negus, among the scholars and rulers who have a standing in Islam, we hope that there is no harm, if Allah wills, in that.