By Jinan Yousef

Sometimes… someone crosses your mind. It may be someone you have not thought of in a while. It may be someone you are not in touch with anymore.

And their memory may bring a smile to your face or sadness to your heart – or both. And sometimes, that thought is not a coincidence, nor is the feeling.

Sometimes, that is God reminding you to pray for them. One of the best things you can do for someone is to pray for them in their absence – you invite the Angels to pray for them and you too. And when God reminds you to pray for someone, it is said that it is because He wants to answer your prayer.

Whatever distance there is between you – whether it is oceans and continents, the ground beneath your feet, or merely words – is immediately shortened by your prayer.

How beautiful would it be for God to answer your prayers, and shower His blessings upon that person who crossed your heart.

And how beautiful would it be for you to see that person in Paradise and, with that meeting, realize that both of your acceptances into Paradise were partly due to a prayer the other person made.

As one of the scholars said,

“Pray for whoever crosses your mind. Honor the guests of your heart”