A woman whose son, aged 25, died in a car accident wants to perform Hajj and give charity on his behalf; does this benefit him in his death?
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The questioner : Remember, O honorable Shaykh, that she has a son who was twenty-five years old and died in a car accident. She wants to perform Hajj for him, give charity on his behalf, and offer a sacrifice for him. Do these acts of charity and Hajj reach him and benefit him in his death?
The Shaykh : The answer to this is that if this son has not performed the obligatory Hajj, there is no harm in performing Hajj on his behalf. A woman asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about her mother, who had vowed to perform Hajj but did not do so until she died. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted her to perform Hajj on her mother's behalf.
However, if he has already performed the obligatory Hajj, then making du'a for him is better than performing Hajj on his behalf, better than giving charity on his behalf, and better than offering a sacrifice on his behalf. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1631 Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) directed them to du'a and did not direct them to anything else of what people do today, such as charity, sacrifice, fasting, and prayer, and the like. But if she does this, there is no harm, and there is no blame on her for giving charity on her son's behalf or performing Hajj on his behalf.
As for the sacrifice, it is better that the sacrifice be one animal for all the people of the household, both the living and the dead, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sacrificed one sheep on his own behalf and on behalf of his household. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The answer to this is that if this son has not performed the obligatory Hajj, there is no harm in performing Hajj on his behalf. A woman asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about her mother, who had vowed to perform Hajj but did not do so until she died. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) permitted her to perform Hajj on her mother's behalf.
However, if he has already performed the obligatory Hajj, then making du'a for him is better than performing Hajj on his behalf, better than giving charity on his behalf, and better than offering a sacrifice on his behalf. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child, who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاثة، إلا من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهAs for the sacrifice, it is better that the sacrifice be one animal for all the people of the household, both the living and the dead, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sacrificed one sheep on his own behalf and on behalf of his household. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.