The ruling on reciting the Qur'an for the deceased and dedicating its reward to them, and verbalizing the intention when seeking forgiveness or giving charity on their behalf

The questioner:
In another question, he asks: What is the ruling on reciting the Qur'an at graves and dedicating its reward to the dead?

The Shaykh:
This is something that has not been established, neither in the Book nor in the Sunnah. Reciting the Qur'an for the dead has no evidence supporting it. Matters concerning the dead and the barzakh (the interval between death and resurrection) are not to be acted upon without evidence. It is not reported that the Salaf (the earliest generations) used to recite the Qur'an for the dead or dedicate its reward to them. What is reported is only making du'a' (supplication) for the dead and seeking forgiveness for them. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.

The questioner:
He says: Shaykh, sometimes we hear some of the common people say, "I seek Allah's forgiveness, the reward for so-and-so," or "There is no god but Allah, the reward for so-and-so." Is this a correct practice?

The Shaykh:
This is du'a', but there is no need to mention the reward. One should say, "I seek Allah's forgiveness for so-and-so."

The questioner:
Or, "O Allah, for You..."

The Shaykh:
Or, "O Allah, forgive so-and-so," or "I seek Allah's forgiveness for so-and-so," or the like, without saying "I dedicate the reward." Because that means you are verbalizing your intention, and it is not permissible to speak about one's intention, for Allah knows the intention without you speaking it. Yes.

The questioner:
So instead of that,

The Shaykh:
say, "I seek Allah's forgiveness for so-and-so," or "O Allah, forgive so-and-so." Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you, and may you be in good health.

The Shaykh:
Or one performs an act of charity and intends it for so-and-so, without verbalizing it. Yes.

The questioner:
Charity or du'a'.

The Shaykh:
Specifically, charity and the udhiyah (the 'Id sacrifice) if one intends to slaughter it, and Hajj and 'Umrah. One should intend them for the deceased and not verbalize it, except when entering ihram (the consecrated state of pilgrimage), if one mentions that this 'Umrah is for so-and-so or on behalf of so-and-so, in order to remind oneself of it. There is no harm in that, but the more one keeps this in one's heart, the better. Yes.