The Intended Meaning of Ongoing Charity in the Hadith of the Cessation of Deeds

Question : The questioner says: It is mentioned in the hadith: . Is the charity referred to here what the deceased bequeaths before his death, or is it what the family of the deceased does after his death? Because the rest of the hadith indicates that the other deeds are directly from the deceased, such as the righteous child who is of his lineage, and the knowledge which he left behind. May Allah reward you?

Answer : The apparent meaning of his statement that "ongoing charity" is from the deceased himself, and not what his children do for him after his death. This is because what the child does is distinct from what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned. What comes from the child is distinct, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in his statement: "or a righteous child who prays for him." So, if the deceased had bequeathed something that constitutes ongoing charity, or endowed something that constitutes ongoing charity, he will benefit from it after his death. Likewise, knowledge is from his earnings. And if the child prays for him, it is not as if he said, "or a righteous child who does deeds for him." For this reason, if we were asked: Is it better to pray two rak'ahs for the father, or to pray two rak'ahs for myself and pray for my father in them? We would say: It is better that you pray two rak'ahs for yourself and pray for your father in them, because this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided to.