What is Permissible to Give to the Deceased and What Is Not
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Q: A question from: H. M. A. from Egypt, who says: Some people in our village bring a group of shaykhs—those who are knowledgeable in reciting the Qur'an—and they recite the Qur'an, claiming that this Qur'an benefits the deceased and causes him to be shown mercy. 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? 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 sincere thanks and gratitude.
A: Praise be to Allah, and after: This practice is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and 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. There are many hadiths in this meaning. It was not part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (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 deaths of the deceased and the anniversary of their passing. All good lies in following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), his Rightly Guided Caliphs, and those who follow their path, as Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [At-Tawbah: 100]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 4607Sahih (Al-Albani).
And it is authentic from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to say in his Friday sermon:Sahih Muslim 867a There are many hadiths in this meaning. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified in authentic hadiths what benefits the Muslim after his death, so 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 any dutifulness to my parents remaining by which I can be dutiful to them after their death? He said (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Abi Dawud 5142Da'if (Al-Albani).
The intended meaning of "covenant" is the bequest that the deceased makes. So part of being dutiful to him is carrying it out if it is in accordance with the pure Shari'ah. And part of being dutiful to the parents is: giving charity on their behalf, making du'a' (supplication) for them, and performing Hajj and 'Umrah on their behalf. And success is from Allah.
A: Praise be to Allah, and after: This practice is a bid'ah (religious innovation) and 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 عملًا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردAnd 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 رضي الله عنهم 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 الأمور، فإن كل محدثة بدعة، وكل بدعة ضلالةAnd it is authentic from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to say in his Friday sermon:
The 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.
أما بعد؛ فإن خير الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد ﷺ وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل بدعة ضلالةWhen 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 من 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 بهماThe intended meaning of "covenant" is the bequest that the deceased makes. So part of being dutiful to him is carrying it out if it is in accordance with the pure Shari'ah. And part of being dutiful to the parents is: giving charity on their behalf, making du'a' (supplication) for them, and performing Hajj and 'Umrah on their behalf. And success is from Allah.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.