Bringing in famous reciters to recite for the deceased is a religious innovation
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Question:
Some people in our village bring together a group of shaykhs who are knowledgeable in reciting the Qur'an, and they recite the Qur'an on the pretext that this Qur'an benefits the deceased and brings mercy to him. Others call for one or two shaykhs to recite the Qur'an at the grave of this deceased person. Still others hold a large gathering where they invite one of the famous reciters to recite over loudspeakers to commemorate the anniversary of the death of their loved one. What is the ruling of the religion in this matter? Does reciting the Qur'an benefit the deceased at the grave or elsewhere? And what is the best way to benefit the deceased? Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you with the best reward, and we offer you our greatest thanks and gratitude.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, and after that: This action is a bid'ah (religious innovation) that is not permissible; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1718a It is agreed upon as authentic, and his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 1718b It was narrated by Muslim in his Sahih, and there are many hadiths in this meaning.
It was not part of his Sunnah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor the Sunnah of his Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them)to recite over graves, or to celebrate the dead and the anniversary of their passing. All good lies in following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), his Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them), and those who follow their path, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:[Surah al-Tawbah: 100] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani) It is authentically reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to say in his Friday sermon: "As for what follows:Sahih Muslim 867a There are many hadiths to this effect.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified in authentic hadiths what benefits the Muslim after his death, and he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Riyad as-Salihin 1383 It was narrated by Muslim in his Sahih. A man asked him (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, is there anything left of dutifulness to my parents that I can do for them after their death?" He said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 5142Da'if (Al-Albani) The meaning of the covenant is the bequest that the deceased leaves behind, so part of being dutiful to them is carrying it out if it is in accordance with the pure Shari'ah. And part of dutifulness to parents is giving charity on their behalf, making du'a' (supplication) for them, and performing Hajj and 'Umrah on their behalf. And Allah is the One who grants success.
Some people in our village bring together a group of shaykhs who are knowledgeable in reciting the Qur'an, and they recite the Qur'an on the pretext that this Qur'an benefits the deceased and brings mercy to him. Others call for one or two shaykhs to recite the Qur'an at the grave of this deceased person. Still others hold a large gathering where they invite one of the famous reciters to recite over loudspeakers to commemorate the anniversary of the death of their loved one. What is the ruling of the religion in this matter? Does reciting the Qur'an benefit the deceased at the grave or elsewhere? And what is the best way to benefit the deceased? Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you with the best reward, and we offer you our greatest thanks and gratitude.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah, and after that: This action is a bid'ah (religious innovation) that is not permissible; because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
'A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who innovates things in our affairs for which there is no valid (reason) (commits sin) and these are to be rejected.
من أحدث في أمرنا هذا ما ليس منه فهو ردHe who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهوو ردIt was not part of his Sunnah (peace and blessings be upon him), nor the Sunnah of his Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them)to recite over graves, or to celebrate the dead and the anniversary of their passing. All good lies in following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), his Rightly Guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them), and those who follow their path, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said:
And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنْصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُYou must then follow my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to it. Avoid novelties, for every novelty is an innovation, and every innovation is an error.
عليكم بسنتي وسنة الخلفاء الراشدين المهديين من بعدي تمسكوا بها وعضوا عليها بالنواجذ، وإياكم ومحدثات الأمورر فإن كل محدثة بدعة وكل بدعة ضلالةThe best of the speech is embodied in the Book of Allah, and the best of the guidance is the guidance given by Muhammad. And the most evil affairs are their innovations; and every innovation is error.
فإن خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد ﷺ، وشر الأمورر محدثاتها، وكل بدعة ضلالةThe Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified in authentic hadiths what benefits the Muslim after his death, and he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات ابن آدم انقطع عمله إلا منن ثلاث: صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهYes, you can invoke blessings on them, forgiveness for them, carry out their final instructions after their death, join ties of relationship which are dependent on them, and honour their friends.
نعم الصلاة عليهما، والاستغفار لهما، وإنفاذ عهدهما من بعدهما، وإكرام صديقهما، وصلة الرحم التي لا توصل إلا بهما
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.