Some people hold a feast and invite relatives and neighbors, saying this is a dinner for the deceased. Does this reward reach them, and what is your opinion of this?
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The questioner : Some people hold a feast and invite relatives and neighbors, saying this is a dinner for the deceased. Does this reward reach them, and what is your opinion of this practice?
The Shaykh : In my opinion, it is better to give money in charity to the poor, because that is more beneficial for the poor.
As for this feast, which is made like a feast of joy and to which friends and relatives are invited, there is good in it, but charity is better than it.
Then I say: wealth needs something more important than that, which is supplication, and supplication is more beneficial for them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 949.
He did not mention giving charity for him, nor fasting on his behalf, nor praying for him, nor performing Hajj on his behalf; rather, he turned away from that to mentioning supplication.
So my advice to my brothers, if they want to benefit their deceased, is to make supplication for them. As for righteous deeds, let them dedicate their reward to them, because they are the ones who will need the reward. Let them follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and let not emotion take them so that they deprive themselves of the deed and assign it to the deceased, when there is a better way than that, which is supplication for the deceased.
The Shaykh : In my opinion, it is better to give money in charity to the poor, because that is more beneficial for the poor.
As for this feast, which is made like a feast of joy and to which friends and relatives are invited, there is good in it, but charity is better than it.
Then I say: wealth needs something more important than that, which is supplication, and supplication is more beneficial for them. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
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 لهHe did not mention giving charity for him, nor fasting on his behalf, nor praying for him, nor performing Hajj on his behalf; rather, he turned away from that to mentioning supplication.
So my advice to my brothers, if they want to benefit their deceased, is to make supplication for them. As for righteous deeds, let them dedicate their reward to them, because they are the ones who will need the reward. Let them follow the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and let not emotion take them so that they deprive themselves of the deed and assign it to the deceased, when there is a better way than that, which is supplication for the deceased.