Mentioning supplication in the hadith of charity (… or a righteous child who prays for him): Does it imply exclusivity?
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The Shaykh : As for his father, yes. As for his aunt, no. The mention of supplication regarding a righteous child does not imply exclusivity. The hadith does not mean that the parent, whether father or mother, does not benefit from their child except through their righteous supplication. This does not establish exclusivity. Rather, as is known in the Arabic style, consider his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) . This does not mean that the rituals of Hajj consist only of standing at 'Arafah. Rather, this is a case of mentioning the most important thing in Hajj, which is standing at 'Arafah. "Hajj is 'Arafah" does not mean that the entire Hajj is standing at 'Arafah, and that there is no staying in Mina, stoning the pillars, staying in Muzdalifah, praying Fajr there, the arrival tawaf, and the farewell tawaf. The hadith does not negate these prescribed things. This is a style in the Arabic language, and in this style the Qur'an was revealed and the hadith came from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him): [Al-Isra 17:78]. Here, the recitation of the Fajr prayer is mentioned. It does not mean only the recitation of the Fajr prayer, but rather the Fajr prayer itself. However, he mentioned the most important of its pillars, which is the recitation. Similarly, here, when he said "and a righteous child who prays for him," he mentioned supplication because it is the most important and quickest thing that the deceased, who is the parent, can benefit from their child. As for the fact that the parents benefit from a righteous child other than through supplication, this is undoubtedly established by specific texts, some of them, and general texts, some of them. For example, "My mother died and she had a vow, so should I fulfill her vow?" He said . Another one: "She had a Hajj, so should I perform Hajj on her behalf?" He said . And the hadith of al-Khath'amiah, which is one of the most famous regarding this topic . Therefore, no, his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) "a righteous child" does not mean exclusivity. As for the general hadiths and general texts, such as His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He): [An-Najm 53:36-39], combined with his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): , and His saying (Glorified and Exalted is He): [Ya-Sin 36:12]. The child is part of his father's legacy. So, every deed that the righteous child does, the father and mother have a great share of it from it. For this reason, if someone builds a mosque for the soul of his father, as they say today—and we reject the word "soul" because it is meaningless—and we say someone who builds a mosque for his father, yes, that benefits his father more than if he built the mosque without intending it for his father. If he builds the mosque for the sake of Allah, he gets his reward, and his father has a share of it. But if he builds the mosque for his father, the most beneficial for his father is this, not the former, and vice versa.
The questioner : I mean, Shaykh, does the reward not extend beyond the parents?
The Shaykh : Yes, the reward does not extend beyond the parents in the case we are discussing.
The questioner : I said "in the case we are discussing" because the examples differ according to their contexts. For example, a man who taught people to recite the Qur'an; as long as there are students among them who recite the Qur'an, the teacher has a share of it, and he is in his grave. This is also derived from the previous verse, as well as the hadith I mentioned, or beneficial knowledge, and this is knowledge that is benefited from. But regarding the general benefit from a man's deed, this generality relates only to the parents, yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And beware of that.
The questioner : On the topic of… building a mosque for his father, or building a mosque for Allah without "for his father." If he builds it for his father, I said it is more beneficial for his father, but regarding…?
The Shaykh : What did you say, "for his father"?
The questioner : If he builds a mosque.
The Shaykh : No, don't repeat your words. Just, this point, "for his father," what did you say, "for his father"?
The questioner : It is more beneficial for his father.
The Shaykh : In which case?
The questioner : The case where he intended it for his father is more beneficial than if he builds a mosque. If he builds a mosque, his father has a share, but less than the first case, because when he builds the mosque with the intention of it being for his father, it is more beneficial for his father.
The Shaykh: Perfect.
The questioner : Now, which is more beneficial for the person himself, to intend it for his father or like this?
The Shaykh : The answer to this has already been given. I said "and vice versa." Did you hear me say "vice versa"? It means if he builds the mosque and does not intend it for his father, that is more beneficial for him.
The questioner : Shaykh, regarding reading the Qur'an, is there something mentioned for the parents to read the Qur'an?
The Shaykh : This has already been discussed, yes.
The questioner : Regarding…
Hajj is 'Arafah
الحج عرفةEstablish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
أقم الصلاة لدلوك الشمس إلى غسق الليل وقرآن الفجر أن قرآن الفجر كان مشهوداYes
نعمYes
نعمMy father is an old man who cannot sit on a mount, and the obligation of Allah, Hajj, has come upon him. Should I perform Hajj on his behalf? He said: Perform Hajj on his behalf.
إن أبي شيخ كبير لا يثبت على الرحل وقد أدركته فريضة الله الحج ، أفأحج عنه قال حجي عنه(36) Or has he not been informed of what was in the scriptures of Moses (37) And [of] Abraham, who fulfilled [his obligations] - (38) That no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another (39) And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
أم لم ينبأ بما في صحف موسى ، وإبراهيم الذي وفى ، أن لا تزروا وازرة أخرى وأن ليس للإنسان إلا ما سعىThe purest earnings are the earnings of a man from the work of his hand, and your children are part of your earnings.
أطيب الكسب كسب الرجل من عمل يده وإن أولادكم من كسبكمrecord what they have put forth and what they left behind
سنكتب ما قدموا وآثارهمThe questioner : I mean, Shaykh, does the reward not extend beyond the parents?
The Shaykh : Yes, the reward does not extend beyond the parents in the case we are discussing.
The questioner : I said "in the case we are discussing" because the examples differ according to their contexts. For example, a man who taught people to recite the Qur'an; as long as there are students among them who recite the Qur'an, the teacher has a share of it, and he is in his grave. This is also derived from the previous verse, as well as the hadith I mentioned, or beneficial knowledge, and this is knowledge that is benefited from. But regarding the general benefit from a man's deed, this generality relates only to the parents, yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : And beware of that.
The questioner : On the topic of… building a mosque for his father, or building a mosque for Allah without "for his father." If he builds it for his father, I said it is more beneficial for his father, but regarding…?
The Shaykh : What did you say, "for his father"?
The questioner : If he builds a mosque.
The Shaykh : No, don't repeat your words. Just, this point, "for his father," what did you say, "for his father"?
The questioner : It is more beneficial for his father.
The Shaykh : In which case?
The questioner : The case where he intended it for his father is more beneficial than if he builds a mosque. If he builds a mosque, his father has a share, but less than the first case, because when he builds the mosque with the intention of it being for his father, it is more beneficial for his father.
The Shaykh: Perfect.
The questioner : Now, which is more beneficial for the person himself, to intend it for his father or like this?
The Shaykh : The answer to this has already been given. I said "and vice versa." Did you hear me say "vice versa"? It means if he builds the mosque and does not intend it for his father, that is more beneficial for him.
The questioner : Shaykh, regarding reading the Qur'an, is there something mentioned for the parents to read the Qur'an?
The Shaykh : This has already been discussed, yes.
The questioner : Regarding…
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.