What is the best charity for the deceased, and how does it reach him?
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The questioner : What is the best charity for the deceased? How does it reach him?
The Shaykh : I say that the best thing is for a person to make du'a' for the deceased rather than giving charity on his behalf. For example, if someone came to us and asked, "Is it better for me to ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy for my father, or to give a thousand riyals in charity on his behalf?"
We said: The best thing is to ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy for him. However, if a person wants to give charity on behalf of the deceased, he is not prevented from doing so, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved of Sa'd ibn Ubadah when he gave charity on behalf of his mother with his date palm grove, meaning his orchard. But we do not command a person to do this; that is, we do not say, "Give charity on behalf of your parents," or "Pray two rak'ahs for them," or "Fast a day for them," or "Perform Hajj on their behalf," or "Perform 'Umrah on their behalf." We do not command him to do so, but if he does, we do not forbid it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us, and he is more knowledgeable about the Shari'ah of Allah than anyone else, and he is the most sincere advisor to creation. He guided us to make du'a' for the deceased, not to perform a righteous deed on his behalf.
The Shaykh : I say that the best thing is for a person to make du'a' for the deceased rather than giving charity on his behalf. For example, if someone came to us and asked, "Is it better for me to ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy for my father, or to give a thousand riyals in charity on his behalf?"
We said: The best thing is to ask Allah for forgiveness and mercy for him. However, if a person wants to give charity on behalf of the deceased, he is not prevented from doing so, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) approved of Sa'd ibn Ubadah when he gave charity on behalf of his mother with his date palm grove, meaning his orchard. But we do not command a person to do this; that is, we do not say, "Give charity on behalf of your parents," or "Pray two rak'ahs for them," or "Fast a day for them," or "Perform Hajj on their behalf," or "Perform 'Umrah on their behalf." We do not command him to do so, but if he does, we do not forbid it. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided us, and he is more knowledgeable about the Shari'ah of Allah than anyone else, and he is the most sincere advisor to creation. He guided us to make du'a' for the deceased, not to perform a righteous deed on his behalf.