The reward of recitation for the deceased
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The third question of Fatwa number ( 2232 )
Q3: Does the reward of reciting the Qur'an and other types of acts of devotion reach
the deceased? Whether from their children or from others?
A3: As far as we know, it is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he recited the Qur'an and gave its reward to the deceased among his relatives or others. If its reward had reached them, he would have been eager to do so and would have explained it to his Ummah so that they could benefit their deceased with it, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) was full of mercy and compassion toward the believers. The Rightly Guided Caliphs after him and the rest of his Companions followed his way in this matter, may Allah be pleased with them, and we do not know that any of them gave the reward of the Qur'an to another. All good lies in following his way (peace and blessings be upon him) and the way of his Rightly Guided Caliphs and the rest of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and evil lies in following religious innovations and newly invented matters; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against that by saying:Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani) , and by saying: Sahih Muslim 1718a On this basis, it is not permissible to recite the Qur'an for the deceased, and the reward of this recitation does not reach him; rather, that is a religious innovation. As for the other types of acts of devotion, if valid evidence indicates that their reward reaches the deceased, it is obligatory to accept it, such as giving charity on his behalf, making supplication for him, and performing Hajj on his behalf. And what has no established evidence is not prescribed until evidence is established for it. On this basis, it is not permissible to recite the Qur'an for the deceased, and the reward of this recitation does not reach him in the most correct of the scholars' opinions; rather, that is a religious innovation.
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q3: Does the reward of reciting the Qur'an and other types of acts of devotion reach
the deceased? Whether from their children or from others?
A3: As far as we know, it is not established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he recited the Qur'an and gave its reward to the deceased among his relatives or others. If its reward had reached them, he would have been eager to do so and would have explained it to his Ummah so that they could benefit their deceased with it, for he (peace and blessings be upon him) was full of mercy and compassion toward the believers. The Rightly Guided Caliphs after him and the rest of his Companions followed his way in this matter, may Allah be pleased with them, and we do not know that any of them gave the reward of the Qur'an to another. All good lies in following his way (peace and blessings be upon him) and the way of his Rightly Guided Caliphs and the rest of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and evil lies in following religious innovations and newly invented matters; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned against that by saying:
Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.
إياكم ومحدثات الأمور فإن كل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالة'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.