Does charity and annual offerings benefit the deceased?
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Question:
From the Republic of Sudan, the listener Yasser Muhammad sent a question asking: Does the charity and annual offerings performed by the deceased's family reach him? And does this recitation of al-Fatihah also reach him, or is all of this considered superstition?
Answer:
Yes, charities, sacrifices, and other acts of devotion that Allah has prescribed benefit the deceased and reach him, benefiting him as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1383 And in the two Sahihs, a man said: O Messenger of Allah! My mother died and she did not leave a bequest, so will she have a reward if I give charity on her behalf? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And a group asked him about their mothers and fathers who died with a Hajj obligation upon them, asking if they could perform Hajj on their behalf? He said: And he said to the other: and so on.
So charities on behalf of the deceased, Hajj on their behalf, and 'Umrah on their behalf, all of this benefits them and reaches them. Likewise, seeking forgiveness for them, making du'a for them, paying off their debts, and making up the fasting they owed when they died with fasting obligations, such as fasting for a vow, or expiatory fasting, or fasting Ramadan which they were lenient about and did not fast, after Allah had cured them of illness if they were sick. This is fasted on their behalf and benefits them. As for one who died while ill, it is not fasted on his behalf because he is excused.
As for the innovations that people invent, no. Innovations are things that Allah has not prescribed. These do not benefit; rather, they harm. They harm the one who innovated them, not the deceased; they harm them, the ones who innovated celebrating the Mawlid, or celebrating things for which Allah has not sent down any authority for the sake of the deceased, annual offerings that Allah has not prescribed, with celebrations on such as the twenty-seventh night of Rajab, or the middle night of Sha'ban, or other nights they invent, and they hold celebrations in them with things they do for the deceased. These do not benefit; these harm the one who does them, because they are blameworthy innovations, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718b.
And what benefits the deceased is only charity on their behalf, du'a for them, seeking forgiveness, Hajj on their behalf, and fasting on their behalf if they had fasting obligations, and du'a for them. All of this benefits the deceased. The sacrifice on his behalf is charity; the sacrifice on his behalf is charity. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
From the Republic of Sudan, the listener Yasser Muhammad sent a question asking: Does the charity and annual offerings performed by the deceased's family reach him? And does this recitation of al-Fatihah also reach him, or is all of this considered superstition?
Answer:
Yes, charities, sacrifices, and other acts of devotion that Allah has prescribed benefit the deceased and reach him, benefiting him as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
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 من ثلاث: صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهYes
نعمYes, perform Hajj on behalf of your father
نعم، حج عن أبيكPerform Hajj on behalf of your mother
حجي عن أمكSo charities on behalf of the deceased, Hajj on their behalf, and 'Umrah on their behalf, all of this benefits them and reaches them. Likewise, seeking forgiveness for them, making du'a for them, paying off their debts, and making up the fasting they owed when they died with fasting obligations, such as fasting for a vow, or expiatory fasting, or fasting Ramadan which they were lenient about and did not fast, after Allah had cured them of illness if they were sick. This is fasted on their behalf and benefits them. As for one who died while ill, it is not fasted on his behalf because he is excused.
As for the innovations that people invent, no. Innovations are things that Allah has not prescribed. These do not benefit; rather, they harm. They harm the one who innovated them, not the deceased; they harm them, the ones who innovated celebrating the Mawlid, or celebrating things for which Allah has not sent down any authority for the sake of the deceased, annual offerings that Allah has not prescribed, with celebrations on such as the twenty-seventh night of Rajab, or the middle night of Sha'ban, or other nights they invent, and they hold celebrations in them with things they do for the deceased. These do not benefit; these harm the one who does them, because they are blameworthy innovations, and the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He 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 what benefits the deceased is only charity on their behalf, du'a for them, seeking forgiveness, Hajj on their behalf, and fasting on their behalf if they had fasting obligations, and du'a for them. All of this benefits the deceased. The sacrifice on his behalf is charity; the sacrifice on his behalf is charity. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.