A Doubt about the Supplication for Intercession for a Deceased Child, and Its Answer

Question

In the funeral prayer, when the deceased is small (a boy or a girl), the supplication [ar]اللهم اجعله لنا شافعا ومشفعا[/ar] “O Allah, make him for us an intercessor and one whose intercession is accepted” is recited. Is reciting this supplication established from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ? The doubt arose because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is himself an intercessor — how could any child become an intercessor for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?

Answer

Reciting the supplication [with the words] “dhukhr” (a stored treasure) and “farat” (a forerunner) is mentioned in the noble hadith. The command to recite after the adhan “Grant Muhammad al-wasila” (آت محمدا الوسيلة) is likewise in the noble hadith, and one of the explanations of “al-wasila” is the station of intercession.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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