The ruling on dedicating the reward of an act to a living person
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Is it permissible for a living person to donate or give the reward to another living person, such as taking on the guardianship of one orphan for himself and one for another without his knowledge, but intending that the reward is for himself?
The scholars have differed on whether it is permissible for a living person to dedicate the reward of an act to another living person or not. They also differed on whether it is permissible for a living person to dedicate the reward of an act to a deceased person in matters other than what the Sunnah has established, or not. The precaution for a person is to do what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed, which is supplication.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: a continuous charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who prays for him). He did not say "or a righteous child who performs deeds for him," even though the context of the hadith is about deeds. If performing deeds for parents had been among the required matters, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would have specified it. And since they are the parents, how much more so for others.
Therefore, we encourage our brothers to make their righteous deeds for themselves. If he wants to give charity of a dirham for his father or his mother, let him make it for himself, and let him pray for his parents whenever he wishes, in prayer, between the adhan and the iqamah, in the night prayer, or otherwise. This is the best, and this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided to. However, if he gives charity for his parents, or performs Hajj or 'Umrah on their behalf, there is no harm in that.
The scholars have differed on whether it is permissible for a living person to dedicate the reward of an act to another living person or not. They also differed on whether it is permissible for a living person to dedicate the reward of an act to a deceased person in matters other than what the Sunnah has established, or not. The precaution for a person is to do what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed, which is supplication.The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: (When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: a continuous charity, or knowledge from which benefit is derived, or a righteous child who prays for him). He did not say "or a righteous child who performs deeds for him," even though the context of the hadith is about deeds. If performing deeds for parents had been among the required matters, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) would have specified it. And since they are the parents, how much more so for others.
Therefore, we encourage our brothers to make their righteous deeds for themselves. If he wants to give charity of a dirham for his father or his mother, let him make it for himself, and let him pray for his parents whenever he wishes, in prayer, between the adhan and the iqamah, in the night prayer, or otherwise. This is the best, and this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided to. However, if he gives charity for his parents, or performs Hajj or 'Umrah on their behalf, there is no harm in that.