The Superiority of Supplication for the Deceased over Other Deeds
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His Eminence the Shaykh: This is a woman who wants to perform Hajj on behalf of her mother, who has passed away, and her mother had already performed the obligatory Hajj. What is better: that she perform Hajj and make supplication for her, or that she perform Hajj for herself?
It is better that she perform Hajj for herself and make supplication for her mother; this is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three — he mentioned these three —So he said: a continuing charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous son who makes supplication for him) and he did not say: or a righteous son who performs Hajj for him, or fasts for him, or gives charity for him, or prays for him.
So if a questioner asks: Which is better: that I pray and dedicate the reward to my father, or that I give charity and dedicate the reward to my father, or that I perform Hajj and dedicate the reward to my father, or that I make supplication for my father?We said: The better option is the second: that you make supplication for your father, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is more knowledgeable, more sincere in advice, and more eloquent than you,And he did not say: when a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: a continuing charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous son who works for him;Rather, he said (peace and blessings be upon him): (a righteous son who makes supplication for him) this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided to.
It is better that she perform Hajj for herself and make supplication for her mother; this is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three — he mentioned these three —So he said: a continuing charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous son who makes supplication for him) and he did not say: or a righteous son who performs Hajj for him, or fasts for him, or gives charity for him, or prays for him.
So if a questioner asks: Which is better: that I pray and dedicate the reward to my father, or that I give charity and dedicate the reward to my father, or that I perform Hajj and dedicate the reward to my father, or that I make supplication for my father?We said: The better option is the second: that you make supplication for your father, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is more knowledgeable, more sincere in advice, and more eloquent than you,And he did not say: when a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: a continuing charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous son who works for him;Rather, he said (peace and blessings be upon him): (a righteous son who makes supplication for him) this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided to.