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What can be done on behalf of the deceased (dead) – ‘Invitation

to Islam’ Newsletter
AbdurRahman.org 7 years ago

From the ‘Invitation to Islam’ Newsletter, Issue 5, October 1998

The scholars differed as to whether it is permissible to give reward to the dead and whether
that reaches them.

There are two views:

1 – That any righteous deed may be given to the dead and that (the reward) reaches them –
such as reading Qur’aan, fasting, praying and other acts of worship.

2 – That no righteous deed reaches the dead except those for which there is evidence that it
reaches them. This is the more correct view. The evidence for that is the verse in which
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And that man can have nothing but what he does” [al-Najm 53:39]

And the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “When a man dies all his good deeds
come to an end except three: ongoing charity (sadaqah jaariyah), beneficial knowledge and a
righteous son who will pray for him.” Narrated by Muslim, 1631, from the hadeeth of Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him).

The paternal uncle of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam – Hamzah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) – died,
as did his wife Khadeejah and three of his daughters, but it is not narrated that he read
Qur’aan for any of them, or offered a sacrifice or fasted or prayed on their behalf. No such
thing has been narrated from any of the Sahaabah either. If it were prescribed, then they
would have done it before us. The exceptions for which there is evidence that the reward
does reach the deceased are: Hajj, ‘Umrah, obligatory fasts, charity and du’aa’.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: ” ‘And that man can have
nothing but what he does’:
From this verse al-Shaafa’i and those who followed him understood that the reward for
reading Qur’aan does not  reach the deceased, because it is not something that they did or
earned. Hence the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not
recommend or encourage his ummah to do that, and he did not tell them to do that through
any statement or gesture. Nor is it narrated that any of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased
with them) did that. If it were good they would have done that before us. So the acts of
worship are restricted to those mentioned in the texts, and there is no room for analogy or
personal opinions. With regard to  du’aa’ and charity, there is scholarly consensus that the
reward for them reaches the deceased and that they are mentioned in sharee’ah. Tafseer Ibn
Katheer, 4/258.

If we assume that the reward for all righteous deeds reaches the deceased, then the best
thing that can benefit the  deceased is du’aa’. So why should we ignore that which the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)has encouraged us to do, and turn to
other things that he did not do and that none of his companions did? All goodness is to be
found in the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and
his companions.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about giving the reward for
reading Qur’aan and charity to one’s mother, whether she is alive or dead.

He replied: With regard to reading Qur’aan, the scholars differed as to whether the reward
for that will reach the deceased. There are two scholarly views, the more correct of which is
that it does not reach the deceased because there is no evidence to that effect. The Prophet
sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam did not do that for his deceased Muslim loved ones such as his
daughters who died during his lifetime, and the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with
them) did not do that or approve of it, as far as we know. It is better for the believer not to do
that and not to read Qur’aan for the dead or the living, or to pray on their behalf, or to
observe voluntary fasts on their behalf, because there is no evidence for any of that.

The basic principle concerning acts of worship is that we do not do anything except that
which is proven to be prescribed by Allaah or His Messenger sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam.

Charity benefits both the living and the dead, according to Muslim consensus. Similarly
du’aa’ benefits both the living and the dead according to Muslim consensus. Undoubtedly the
living benefit from charity given by them and by others, and they benefit from du’aa’. If a
person makes du’aa’ for his parents when they are alive, they benefit from his du’aa’, as they
also benefit from charity given on their behalf when they are still alive, and from Hajj done
on their behalf if they are unable to do it themselves because of old age or incurable
sickness. So a person may benefit them by doing that. Hence it is narrated that a woman said
to the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam: “O  Messenger of Allaah, Allaah’s command to
perform Hajj has come when my father is an old man and cannot sit firmly in the saddle.
Shall I perform Hajj on his behalf?” He said: “Perform Hajj on his behalf.” Another man
came to him and said: “O Messenger of Allaah, my father is an old man and cannot perform
Hajj or travel; shall I perform Hajj and ‘Umrah on his behalf?” He said: “Perform Hajj and
‘Umrah on behalf of your father.” This indicates that it is permissible to perform Hajj on
behalf of one who has died or on behalf of a living man or woman who is unable to do it
because of old age. So giving charity, making du’aa’ and performing Hajj on behalf of one
who has died or one who is unable to do it will benefit him, according to all the scholars.
Similarly one may fast on behalf of a deceased person, if he owed an obligatory fast –
whether as the result of a vow, as an expiation or to make up for a Ramadaan fast – because
of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam; “Whoever
dies owing a fast, his heir must observe the fast on his behalf.” Saheeh – agreed upon. And
there are other ahaadeeth which say the same thing. But whoever delays Ramadaan fasts for
a legitimate reason, such as sickness or travel, then dies before he is able to make them up,
there is no need to fast them on his behalf or feed the poor, because he is excused.

Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat al-Shaykh Ibn Baaz, 4/348.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it permissible for a
man to give money in charity and to share the reward for it with someone else?

He replied: It is permissible for a person to give money in charity and intend for it to be on
behalf of his father, his mother or his brother or anyone else he wants among the Muslims,
because the reward is great. If charity is given sincerely for the sake of Allaah and from
wealth that is acquired in a halaal manner, then the reward will be multiplied greatly, as
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allaah, is as the likeness of a
grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allaah gives
manifold increase to whom He wills. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-
Knower” [al-Baqarah 2:261]
And the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam used to slaughter a single sheep on behalf of
himself and the members of his household. Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen, 18/249

From the above it is clear that what you have mentioned about giving the reward of dhikr to
your parents is not  correct according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions,
whether they are alive or deceased.

Rather what we advise you to do is to make a great deal of du’aa’ for them and give charity
on their behalf, for all goodness is in following the guidance of the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi
wa sallam and his noble companions. The  scholars are agreed that the benefits of du’aa’,
praying for forgiveness, giving charity and Hajj reach the deceased.

With regard to du’aa’ and praying for forgiveness, Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):

“And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have
preceded us in Faith'” [al-Hashr 59:10]

The Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Pray for forgiveness for your brother and ask
that he be made steadfast, for now he is being questioned.”

And he sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “When you offer the (funeral) prayer for the
deceased, then make du’aa’ sincerely for him.”

With regard to charity, it was narrated in al-Saheehayn from ‘Aa’ishah that a man said to the
Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam: “My mother died suddenly and she did not leave a will,
but I think that if she could have spoken she would have given in charity. Will she have a
reward if I give in charity on her behalf?” The Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said:
“Yes.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 1388; Muslim,
no. 1004.

And it was narrated by al-Bukhaari from Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah that his mother died when he
was absent, and he said: “O Messenger of Allaah, my mother has died when I was absent.
Will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?” He said: “Yes.” He said: “I ask you to
bear witness that my garden that bears fruit is given in charity on her behalf.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 2756.
With regard to Hajj, the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said to one who asked him
about Hajj: “Don’t you think that if your mother had a debt, you would pay it off for her?”
She said: “Yes.” He said: “A debt owed to Allaah is more deserving of being paid off.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6699; Muslim, 1148.

From the above you will know that giving charity on behalf of the deceased will benefit him
and its reward will reach him. There is a da’eef (weak) hadeeth about offering prayer on
behalf of the dead. Imam Muslim mentioned in his introduction to his Saheeh that ‘Abd-
Allaah ibn al-Mubaarak regarded this hadeeth as weak, then he said: There is no difference
of opinion concerning giving charity (i.e., on behalf of the dead). End quote.

Al-Nawawi said: “There is no difference of opinion concerning giving charity (i.e., on behalf
of the dead)” means that this hadeeth is not to be taken as evidence. But whoever wants to
honour his parents, let him give charity on their behalf, for (the reward of) charity will
reach the deceased and benefit them, and there is no difference of opinion among the
Muslims concerning this point. This is the correct view. With regard to the report narrated
by the qaadi Abu’l-Hasan al-Maawardi al-Basri al-Faqeeh al-Shaafa’i in his book al-Haawi
from some of the scholars of al-kalaam, that no reward can reach the deceased after his
death, this is a view that is definitely wrong and is clearly contrary to the texts of the
Qur’aan and Sunnah and the consensus of the ummah, so no attention should be paid to it.
With regard to praying and fasting on behalf of the dead, the view of al-Shaafa’i and the
majority of the scholars is that the reward for that does not reach the deceased, unless it is a
fast that was obligatory for the deceased, so his heir or someone to whom the heir gives
permission makes it up on his behalf. Two views concerning this were narrated from al-
Shaafa’i, the better known of which is that it is not valid; the more correct view according to
the later Shaafa’i scholars is that it is valid.

With regard to reading Qur’aan, the well-known view of the Shaafa’i madhhab is that the
reward for that does not reach the deceased. Some of his companions said that its reward
does reach the deceased. Some of the scholars were of the view that the reward of all acts of
worship – prayer, fasting, reading Qur’aan, etc – reaches the deceased… Then al-Nawawi
mentioned that the reward for du’aa’, charity and Hajj reaches the deceased, according to
scholarly consensus. End quote.

It says in Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj (7/72): The deceased can benefit from charity given on his
behalf, which includes a waqf of a Mus-haf etc, or digging a well, or planting a tree, whether
he does that during his lifetime or it is done by someone else on his behalf after his death.
With regard to the best ways of benefiting ones deceased loved ones, you should make a lot
of du’aa’ for him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“and say: ‘My Lord! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was young'”
[al-Isra’ 17:24]

And the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “When a person dies, all his good deeds
come to an end except three: ongoing charity, or beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child
who will pray for him.”

With regard to charity, the best things on which charity may be spent are jihad for the sake
of Allaah, building mosques, and helping seekers of knowledge by printing books for them
or giving them money that they need. And Allaah knows best.

Share this, Baarakallaah Feekum: [“One who guides to something good has
a reward similar to that of its doer” - Saheeh Muslim vol.3, no.4665] [This
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