What are the things we give in charity on behalf of the deceased, and what are the deeds that reach him?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. In his second question, he asks: What are the things we give in charity on behalf of the deceased? And what are the deeds that reach him?
The Shaykh : First, I say to thisThe questioner : We are not obligated to give charity on behalf of the deceased, nor is it prescribed for us to give charity on his behalf. If we do give charity on his behalf, it is permissible and not an innovation, but it is better to make du'a' for the deceased, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to do when he said:Riyad as-Salihin 949, and he did not say to give charity on his behalf, or perform Hajj on his behalf, or perform 'Umrah on his behalf, or pray on his behalf.
And if that is the case, let us follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), for he (peace and blessings be upon him) is the most sincere of all creation to creation. He is sincere to us and sincere to the dead, and he guided us to make du'a' for them, not to perform deeds for them. The context of the hadith is regarding deeds: do they cease or not?
And despite that, he turned from performing deeds for the deceased to making du'a' for him.
The Shaykh : First, I say to thisThe questioner : We are not obligated to give charity on behalf of the deceased, nor is it prescribed for us to give charity on his behalf. If we do give charity on his behalf, it is permissible and not an innovation, but it is better to make du'a' for the deceased, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us to do when he said:
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث : صدقة جارية ، أو علم ينتفع به ، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهAnd if that is the case, let us follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), for he (peace and blessings be upon him) is the most sincere of all creation to creation. He is sincere to us and sincere to the dead, and he guided us to make du'a' for them, not to perform deeds for them. The context of the hadith is regarding deeds: do they cease or not?
And despite that, he turned from performing deeds for the deceased to making du'a' for him.