The ruling on reciting al-Fatihah and dedicating its reward to the deceased

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner, your servant Qasim from Banu Malik in the southern region, says: My uncle has a supplication after the 'Isha' prayer where he glorifies Allah and recites al-Fatihah for his deceased companions, naming them so-and-so, son of so-and-so, and so-and-so, daughter of so-and-so, and so on. What is the ruling on this practice?

Answer:
Reciting al-Fatihah and dedicating its reward to others, whether living or dead, has no basis in the religion, and it is a bid'ah (religious innovation). One does not recite al-Fatihah or any other part of the Qur'an for the deceased; rather, one makes du'a' (supplication) for them, gives charity on their behalf, and performs Hajj and 'Umrah on their behalf. This is what is mentioned in the hadiths, and there is no evidence for anything else. Specifying the time after 'Isha' for supplication, without evidence, is also something that should be avoided. Supplication is constant at all times, after all the prayers, and in the virtuous times, in the morning and in the evening.