What is the ruling of the Shari'ah, in your view, on reciting al-Fatihah for the deceased at night, or in the Maghrib prayer, or in the Fajr prayer?
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The questioner : He is asking about the ruling of the Shari'ah, in your view, O Shaykh Muhammad, on reciting al-Fatihah for the deceased at night, or in the Maghrib prayer, or in the Fajr prayer?
The Shaykh : Specifying al-Fatihah for recitation for the deceased at any time is a religious innovation (bid'ah). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: And I do not know of any report from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or from any of the Companions regarding the recommendation of reciting al-Fatihah for the deceased. Therefore, we should not do what our righteous predecessors did not do, for the good lies in their guidance. We ask Allah the Exalted to make us among those who follow them.
And know that every act of worship requires two fundamental conditions for its acceptance and validity:
The first condition is sincerity to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in it, such that a person does not perform it for the sake of showing off to people, or for their hearing, or for any of the matters of this world.
The second is following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Following is not realized unless the act of worship conforms to the Shari'ah in six matters:
Conforming to the Shari'ah in its cause, its type, its amount, its manner, its time, and its place. If it contradicts the Shari'ah in any one of these six matters, it does not conform to it, and following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is not realized in it. In that case, it is not accepted nor valid, but rather it is an innovation if a person intends to worship Allah with it and its origin is not established in the Shari'ah.
The Shaykh : Specifying al-Fatihah for recitation for the deceased at any time is a religious innovation (bid'ah). It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Every innovation is misguidance.
كل بدعة ضلالةAnd know that every act of worship requires two fundamental conditions for its acceptance and validity:
The first condition is sincerity to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in it, such that a person does not perform it for the sake of showing off to people, or for their hearing, or for any of the matters of this world.
The second is following the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Following is not realized unless the act of worship conforms to the Shari'ah in six matters:
Conforming to the Shari'ah in its cause, its type, its amount, its manner, its time, and its place. If it contradicts the Shari'ah in any one of these six matters, it does not conform to it, and following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is not realized in it. In that case, it is not accepted nor valid, but rather it is an innovation if a person intends to worship Allah with it and its origin is not established in the Shari'ah.