Asking for Prayers During Umrah: Ruling, Evidence, and Etiquette

We often witness touching scenes when a friend, neighbor, or family member says goodbye before departing for the Holy Land. Usually, in addition to saying farewell, there is one sentence that is almost always uttered: “Don’t forget to pray for me there, okay!”

The habit of entrusting prayers during Umrah is deeply ingrained in our society. But, have you ever wondered, is there a legal basis for this in Islam? Is it permissible for us to burden someone who is focused on worship with our requests for prayers?

The good news is, this isn’t just a customary greeting. There’s a strong basis from the practice of the companions and the Prophet ﷺ himself regarding the encouragement to ask for prayers from someone about to travel (safar), especially for the purpose of worship.

Let’s discuss thoroughly, starting from the evidence, virtues, and the proper way to request prayers without being a burden.

Evidence for Entrusting Prayers to Umrah Pilgrims

The primary basis for this practice is not baseless. Imam An-Nawawi, a great scholar within the Shafi’i school of thought, included a specific discussion regarding this in his highly renowned book, Al-Adzkar.

He created a special chapter titled: (The Chapter on Encouragement for Residents to Entrust Messages to Travelers to Pray for Them in Holy Places, Even Though the Resident is More Virtuous Than the Traveler).

Here is the original wording of the hadith that serves as the legal basis for requesting prayers from Umrah pilgrims:

Arabic Text and Translation

Narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi, from Umar bin al-Khattab may Allah be pleased with him, he related:

اسْتَأْذَنْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْعُمْرَةِ, فَأَذِنَ وَقَالَ: ” لا تَنْسَنَا يَا أَخِي مِنْ دُعَائِكَ “

“I asked permission from the Prophet shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam to perform Umrah, so he permitted me and said: ‘Do not forget us in your prayers, O my brother.’“

In another narration, the wording is:

” أشركنا يا أخي في دعائك “

“Include us, my brother, in your prayer.”

Umar bin Khattab then commented on the Prophet’s request: “He uttered a statement that I would not be pleased to exchange for the world (meaning that statement is more valuable to me than the world).”

(Source: Al-Adzkar An-Nawawi, p. 219. This hadith is graded Hasan Sahih by At-Tirmidhi).

Lessons from Hadith

From the narration above, we can take an important point. Imagine, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ —the most noble human being whose prayers are guaranteed to be answered— actually asked Umar bin Khattab, who was about to perform Umrah, to pray for him.

This teaches us two things:

1. Humility: There is no need to feel ashamed to ask others for prayers, even if we feel our knowledge or status is higher.
2. The Virtues of Travelers: A person who is traveling (safar), especially a journey of worship such as Umrah, holds a special position in the sight of Allah.

Why Should One Request Prayers in the Holy Land?

Some might think, “I can just pray at home, Allah is All-Hearing.” That’s true, Allah is All-Hearing. However, there are certain conditions, times, and places that make a prayer more likely to reach the heavens quickly.

Here are the reasons why requesting prayers during Umrah is a moment many people seek:

1. The Excellence of the Traveler’s Prayer

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that there are three prayers that are never rejected, one of which is da’watul musafir (the prayer of a traveler). When a person sets out for Umrah, their status is that of a traveler as well as a guest of Allah (Dhuyufurrahman).

2. Places Where Prayers Are Readily Answered

In Mecca and Medina, locations are scattered that are known as places where prayers are accepted (multazam). When our friends are there, we hope our names are mentioned in places like:

• Multazam: The wall between the Black Stone and the door of the Ka’bah.
• Hijr Ismail: A semi-circular area next to the Ka’bah.
• Raudhah: The place between the Prophet’s house (tomb) and his pulpit in the Nabawi Mosque.
• During Sa’i and Tawaf.

Benefiting from the ‘overflow’ of prayers in these places is a golden opportunity that should not be missed.

The Etiquette and Proper Way to Request Prayers (So as Not to Burden Others)

Even though requesting prayers (nitip doa) is permissible and even recommended, we must still have good manners. Let’s not let our requests burden the congregation who are focused on physical and mental worship. Remember, the Umrah pilgrimage is tiring.

Here is a guide to etiquette when you want to entrust a request:

Do Not Make a Shopping List of Prayers

Avoid sending WhatsApp messages that are as long as a newspaper, containing detailed prayers from A to Z. Just convey the main points. Someone who is performing Tawaf may find it difficult to read long texts on their phones.

Use Concise Language

Instead of writing: “Oh Allah, please give me a spouse who is tall, fair-skinned, rich, lives in South Jakarta, and is kind-hearted…”

It is better to summarize as: “Please pray for me to soon meet the best righteous spouse.”

Read the room

Observe the condition of relatives who are departing. If they are elderly or bringing small children, it is best to lessen their burden. Simply ask for the dua sapu jagat (goodness of this world and the hereafter).

Table: Do’s and Don’ts When Requesting Prayers

What is Permissible (Do’s)	What Should Be Avoided (Don’ts)
Ask for general prayers (health, sustenance, a life partner).	Ask for prayers that are too detailed and lengthy.
Send prayers via text so they can be read when they have free time.	Call during their worship rituals.
Pray for their safety in return (reciprocity).	Force them to pray for you at a specific point (e.g., “Must be in front of the Multazam!”).
Be sincere if they forget to pray for you.	Get angry or disappointed if there is no photo/video proof of prayer.

Examples of Prayer Requests for Umrah Pilgrims

To make it easier, you can use the following sentence template when sending a message to a friend who is about to depart:

For Close Friends:

“Dear Friend/Brother/Sister, congratulations on performing Umrah. May it be smooth and accepted (mabrur). If you have time and are free, please mention my name in front of the Ka’bah, may my affairs be eased [mention a brief request, e.g.: to pay off debts]. Thank you so much, may you be in Allah’s protection!”

For the Elderly/Respected Individuals:

“Sir/Madam, have a safe journey, may your Umrah be accepted and may you always be healthy. If you don’t mind, please offer a prayer for our family to always be under the protection of Allah. Jazakumullah khairan.”

FAQ: Popular Questions About Requesting Prayers

Here are some frequently asked questions that appear on search engines related to this topic:

Closing

Requesting prayers during Umrah is a good tradition that has strong roots in Islam. The story of Umar bin Khattab and the Prophet ﷺ above is clear evidence that praying for each other is the core of brotherhood among Muslims.

So, don’t hesitate to ask for prayers from those departing for the Holy Land. However, remember to do so politely, without coercion, and without causing trouble. And most importantly: don’t forget to pray for their safety during their journey there and back.

Hopefully this article is useful and for those of you who have a wish, may Allah grant it soon, either through your own prayers or the means of prayer from our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land. Aamiin.