Offering to the deceased, such as parents: Is it better to recite the Qur'an with the intention of dedicating it to them, or to make du'a' for them, or to recite tasbih and dedicate it to them?

The questioner : Offering to the deceased, such as parents: Is it better to recite the Qur'an with the intention of dedicating it to them, or to make du'a' for them, or to recite tasbih and dedicate it to them, or to perform 'Umrah and Hajj for them? Which of these is better for them?

The Shaykh : The best of these mentioned things is du'a', because this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) guided us to, where he said: He did not mention performing deeds, even though the context of the hadith is about deeds. So when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) turned to mentioning du'a' for them, it became known that du'a' for them is better. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) would never, under any circumstances, choose for his Ummah anything other than what is most beneficial for them in their religion and their worldly affairs. Consequently, it becomes clear that when a person, whenever he recites tasbih, whenever he prays, whenever he performs 'Umrah, or whenever he recites the Qur'an beyond what is obligatory upon him, goes and dedicates it to his deceased relatives, this is not the custom of the Salaf (may Allah be pleased with them). The best path is the path of those who came before. Therefore, I advise my Muslim brothers to make their righteous deeds for themselves, because they will need them just as those deceased people need righteous deeds. And let them follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in making du'a' for their deceased.