Praying for the one who treats you kindly by saying “Jazak Allaahu khayran”

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Good manners dictate that you should reciprocate the one who
does you a favour. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) enjoined that and said: “Whoever does you a favour, then reciprocate,
and if you cannot find anything with which to reciprocate, then pray for him
until you think that you have reciprocated him.” Narrated by Abu Dawood
(1672); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

Reciprocating kindness means choosing that which will make
the one who did you a favour feel happy, just as he made you feel happy. So
you should strive to thank him in kind. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“Is there any reward for good other than good?”

[al-Rahmaan 55:60]

If you are not able to reciprocate with a gift, or helping
with some task, or offering some service, etc, then at least you can say
du’aa’ for him, and this du’aa’ may be a means of bringing him happiness in
this world and in the Hereafter.

One of the best forms of du’aa’ for the one who has done you
a favour is that which is mentioned in the Sunnah:

It was narrated that Usaamah ibn Zayd (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “Whoever has a favour done for him and says to the one
who did it, ‘Jazak Allaahu khayran,’ has done enough to thank him.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (1958) and by al-Nasaa’i in
al-Sunan al-Kubra (6/53); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Tirmidhi.

This du’aa’ is also narrated from the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a lengthy hadeeth in which it says: “You
are the Ansaar, may Allaah reward you with good (jazaakum Allaahu khayran),
for you are decent and patient.” Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan (7277) and
al-Haakim (4/79). He said: its isnaad is saheeh, and al-Dhahabi agreed with
him. Shaykh al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (3096): It is
as they said.

This phrase was often uttered by the Sahaabah (may Allaah be
pleased with them).

It says in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah (5/322): ‘Umar
ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: If one of you knew
what there is in his saying to his brother, ‘Jazaak Allaahu khayran’, you
would say it a great deal to one another.

Usayd ibn al-Hudayr (may Allaah be pleased with him) said to
‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her): May Allaah reward you with good
(O ‘Aa’ishah), for by Allaah, you never have any problem but Allaah grants
you a way out and makes it a blessing for the Muslims. Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (336) and Muslim (367).

In Saheeh Muslim (1823) it is narrated that Ibn ‘Umar
(may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I came to my father when he was
wounded and they praised him and said: May Allaah reward you with good, and
he said: I have hope and fear – meaning hope for that which is with Allaah
of reward and mercy, and fear of that which is with Him of punishment.

What is meant by the phrase “Jazaak Allaahu khayran (May
Allaah reward with you good)” is asking Allaah to reward you with a great
deal of good.

Fayd al-Qadeer (1/410)

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
Sharh Riyaadh al-Saaliheen (4/22):

Reciprocation depends on the situation. With some people,
reciprocation may be by giving him something similar to what he gave you, or
more. With others it may be by praying for him and he would not accept a
gift of money, because if a great man who has a lot of wealth and high
status and honour among his people gives you something and you give him a
similar gift, he will think that you are failing to give him his due, but
for such a person you should pray to Allaah for him. “And if you cannot find
anything with which to reciprocate, then pray for him until you think that
you have reciprocated him.” That may be by saying to him, Jazaak Allaahu
khayran. That is because if Allaah rewards him with good, that will bring
him happiness in this world and in the Hereafter. End quote.

And Allaah knows best.