The questioner says: She had a husband with whom she lived for a period of no less than thirty-five years, and he fulfilled all her legal rights to the extent that he shared with her

The questioner : She says: She had a husband with whom she lived for a period of no less than thirty-five years, and he fulfilled all her legal rights to the extent that he shared with her in his charity or his prayer. She asks: Is it permissible for her to follow her prayer with two rak'ahs, the reward of which is for her husband? And what are the deeds she can do so that their reward reaches her husband?

The Shaykh : This issue is based on dedicating acts of devotion to the dead.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : This means dedicating the reward of a deed to a deceased person among one's dead relatives. The Sunnah has come with what indicates the permissibility of this matter. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he permitted Sa'd ibn Ubadah to give charity on behalf of his mother with his date palm grove. He also permitted the man who said: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother died suddenly, and if she had been able to speak, she would have given charity. Should I give charity on her behalf?" He said: The correct view is that dedicating acts of devotion to the dead is permissible, and the reward reaches them. However, it is not prescribed, meaning it is not an act that is required to be done. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not guide to it when he said: He said: He did not say: "Worship for him" or "Do a righteous deed for him" or the like. Accordingly, it is not a prescribed matter, but rather a permissible matter, one that is permissible to do. Nevertheless, it is not good for a person to dedicate to these dead people constantly, as the questioner wants, offering two rak'ahs for her husband every time she prays. This practice was not known among the Salaf; rather, they did it not as a continuous, permanent, or regular Sunnah. If someone asks: "How do you say it is not prescribed when it was done with the permission of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)?" We say: Yes, a thing may be permissible but not prescribed, even if it was done in the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). This is the man whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent on a military expedition. He used to recite for his companions and would conclude with every time he prayed. They informed the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of this, and he said: The man said: "It is the attribute of the Most Merciful, and I love to recite it." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved this man's action, and yet he did not prescribe for his Ummah to do as he did, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) himself did not do as this man did. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.