A man passed away and left behind children and brothers, and they wish to give charity on his behalf, such as a sacrificial animal, giving money, giving food and clothing, and the like. They say that all this giving and doing is for the soul of the deceased so-and-so.
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The questioner : A man passed away and left behind children and brothers, and they wish to give charity on his behalf, such as a sacrificial animal, giving money, giving food and clothing, and the like. They say that all this giving and doing is for the soul of the deceased so-and-so. Does this action increase the good deeds of the deceased man? And do these charities that his relatives gave benefit the deceased and bring him closer to the righteous at the time of the Reckoning? Please inform us. May Allah reward you with the best reward and the greatest of rewards, and all the Muslims.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. Charity given on behalf of the deceased benefits him, whether it is money or food.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is established in "Sahih al-Bukhari" that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked by a man who said, "O Messenger of Allah, my mother died suddenly, and if she had been able to speak, she would have given charity. Should I give charity on her behalf?" He said: This righteous deed benefits the deceased, and perhaps Allah will expiate some of his sins through it.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, it should be known that one should not do too much of this for the dead. Although it is permissible in the original Shari'ah, one should not do it excessively, as some people do. They constantly give a lot of charity for their deceased. Rather, a person should give charity for himself and make du'a' for others.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He is in need of righteous deeds. He will die just as this man died, and he will need deeds just as this man needed them. So doing this constantly is not the practice of the righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them). But doing it occasionally is not a problem, and it benefits the deceased.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : A person is more deserving of his own deeds than those of others.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And since the righteous Salaf, who were more eager than we are to do good and to benefit their deceased, did not do this frequently, we should follow their example and not do this action and deed excessively.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But if a person does it occasionally, there is no blame on him.
The questioner : I fear that some listeners may understand this as a call to stop doing righteous deeds for the dead.
The Shaykh : No, we are not calling for abandoning it absolutely. We are only calling for not doing it excessively. It is only done occasionally. Therefore, doing it excessively is not the practice of the righteous Salaf. As for what I advise regarding such deeds, it is done according to the bequest, because it is not from the doer's money but from the bequeather's money. So it is done according to... If a man bequeathed feeding, feeding the poor every day, or the like, it is done because that is from his money.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It may also be reported...
The Shaykh : It is done within the limits of the Shari'ah, which is that the bequest must be one-third or less.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Also, these repeated and numerous deeds may lead to planting excessive love in the hearts of the young, and they may believe that there is something in this man, or?
The Shaykh : Yes, it may lead to ghuluw (exaggeration).
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : Praise be to Allah. Charity given on behalf of the deceased benefits him, whether it is money or food.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is established in "Sahih al-Bukhari" that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked by a man who said, "O Messenger of Allah, my mother died suddenly, and if she had been able to speak, she would have given charity. Should I give charity on her behalf?" He said:
Yes
نعمThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : However, it should be known that one should not do too much of this for the dead. Although it is permissible in the original Shari'ah, one should not do it excessively, as some people do. They constantly give a lot of charity for their deceased. Rather, a person should give charity for himself and make du'a' for others.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : He is in need of righteous deeds. He will die just as this man died, and he will need deeds just as this man needed them. So doing this constantly is not the practice of the righteous Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them). But doing it occasionally is not a problem, and it benefits the deceased.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : A person is more deserving of his own deeds than those of others.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Begin with yourself, then with those in your care.
ابدأ بنفسك ثم بمن تعولThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But if a person does it occasionally, there is no blame on him.
The questioner : I fear that some listeners may understand this as a call to stop doing righteous deeds for the dead.
The Shaykh : No, we are not calling for abandoning it absolutely. We are only calling for not doing it excessively. It is only done occasionally. Therefore, doing it excessively is not the practice of the righteous Salaf. As for what I advise regarding such deeds, it is done according to the bequest, because it is not from the doer's money but from the bequeather's money. So it is done according to... If a man bequeathed feeding, feeding the poor every day, or the like, it is done because that is from his money.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : It may also be reported...
The Shaykh : It is done within the limits of the Shari'ah, which is that the bequest must be one-third or less.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Also, these repeated and numerous deeds may lead to planting excessive love in the hearts of the young, and they may believe that there is something in this man, or?
The Shaykh : Yes, it may lead to ghuluw (exaggeration).
The questioner : May Allah reward you.