We have some customs, and that is when a person from the family dies, the deceased's family slaughters a cow, a camel, or a number of sheep, and they say that it is charity. Is this...
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The questioner : We have some customs, and that is when a person from the family dies, the deceased's family slaughters a cow, a camel, or a number of sheep, and they say: "It is charity." Is this action correct? Please inform us, may Allah reward you with good?
The Shaykh : This action is not correct because it is a religious innovation. We have not learned that the righteous Salaf, when someone among them died, would slaughter something to give as charity on his behalf. However, charity on behalf of the deceased is permissible, but not at the time of his death, because if it is adopted as a custom at the time of death, it becomes a religious innovation. Better than charity for the deceased is for a person to make supplication for him, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Riyad as-Salihin 949 He did not say: "Or a righteous son who gives charity for him, or prays for him, or fasts for him," even though the context of the hadith is about actions. This indicates that it is not prescribed for a person to perform an action for the deceased on his own initiative. If it had been prescribed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would have guided to it, either by his words or by encouraging it. Since this was not the case, it is known that it is not prescribed, but it is not forbidden. There is a rank between what is prescribed and what is forbidden, which is what is permissible. Therefore, when Sa'd ibn Ubadah consulted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about his orchard, meaning a garden he had in Madinah, asking if he could give it as charity on behalf of his mother, he permitted him. And when a man came to him saying: Mishkat al-Masabih 1950 These are fatwas, not a general Sunnah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) issued for the Ummah, saying: "O people, give charity on behalf of your deceased, and that is better, or pray for them, and that is better, or fast for them, and that is better." Since he did not say anything like that, it is known that this is not a Sunnah, but it is not forbidden.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : This action is not correct because it is a religious innovation. We have not learned that the righteous Salaf, when someone among them died, would slaughter something to give as charity on his behalf. However, charity on behalf of the deceased is permissible, but not at the time of his death, because if it is adopted as a custom at the time of death, it becomes a religious innovation. Better than charity for the deceased is for a person to make supplication for him, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three: A continuous charity, knowledge by which people derive benefit, pious son who prays for him.
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث: صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهhis mother had died suddenly adding that he thought she would have given sadaqa if she had been able to speak. He therefore asked if she would have a reward supposing he gave sadaqa on her behalf, and was told that she would.
إن أمي أفتلتت نفسها وأظنها لو تكلمت لتصدقت، أفأتصدق عنها؟ قال: نعمThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.