What is the ruling on reading the book "Al-Munjiyat wal-Mubiqat fi al-Ad'iyah" (The Saving and the Destructive Deeds in Supplications), and is what is stated therein correct, especially its assertion that a Muslim's supplication for a sick person's recovery by saying: "O Allah, make this illness an expiation for him" is a sin, even though texts have indicated that calamities are expiations?

Al-Qarafi views that supplicating for the attainment of something whose occurrence has been indicated by revelation is forbidden, such as a supplicant asking: "O Allah, make this illness an expiation," because calamities are expiations by the texts of the Sharia, and likewise, singling out the fast of Ashura for expiating a year, even though the Sunnah has indicated that. Ibn al-Shat objects to Al-Qarafi, stating that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prayed for forgiveness, which is known to occur, and he commanded us to supplicate for him for Al-Wasilah and Al-Fadilah, even though they are destined to happen, which indicates that supplicating for something already destined to occur is not forbidden. Furthermore, expiation and forgiveness are not realized except by the fulfillment of their conditions, and supplication is one of the means that achieve that, and it is an independent act of worship for which one is rewarded. It has been authentically reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, supplicated for the sick that Allah make their illness "purifying," which carries the meaning of expiation, thus confirming its permissibility.