Deeds whose reward reaches the deceased
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السؤال:
Following this, a message reached the program from one of the listening brothers who preferred not to have his name mentioned. He has many questions, among which is one that says: Supplication is the best thing for the deceased, but does the reward of tasbih, dhikr, reciting the Noble Qur'an, prayer, voluntary fasting, and giving charity in the form of clothes, food, and the like reach him? We know that the reward of these deeds belongs to the deceased, and the doer has no share in their reward. This was mentioned in one of the episodes of *Nur 'ala al-Debar*, but the doer also repeats it for himself, such as reciting Surat al-Ikhlas ten times, intending the reward for the deceased, and then reciting it ten more times for himself. The deceased has been dead for thirteen years and two months. May Allah reward you with good. What is the ruling if the deceased had not reached puberty? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Charity on behalf of the deceased benefits the deceased, whether in the form of clothing, money, or food, by the consensus of the Muslims. Likewise, supplication for the deceased for forgiveness, mercy, high ranks, and safety from the Fire benefits the deceased, whether the deceased was an adult or below the age of puberty. Thus, supplication and all forms of charity benefit the deceased. The deceased benefits from charity and supplication, even if he was a minor who had not reached puberty. Likewise, Hajj and 'Umrah performed on his behalf.
As for recitation... reciting the Qur'an for the deceased, or tasbih, or tahlil, we do not know of any proof for this, and there is no evidence that it reaches the deceased. Therefore, the best and most cautious course is to leave that alone. Some scholars have claimed that it reaches the deceased, but as far as we know, there is no evidence for this, whether one reads for the deceased, or does tasbih and tahlil for him, or fasts voluntarily for him. As far as I know, there is no evidence for this.
What is known from the evidence of the Shari'ah is supplication for him, charity on his behalf; all of this reaches the deceased and benefits the deceased. Hajj on his behalf, 'Umrah on his behalf, and paying off his debt; this benefits him. Fasting on his behalf if he had a fast upon him, if he died with a fast of Ramadan upon him, or a fast of a vow, or an expiation, it is fasted on his behalf. This benefits him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 1147.
He was asked (peace and blessings be upon him) about one who died with a fast upon him, so he ordered the questioner to fast on behalf of the one who died, who had a fast of a vow, a fast of Ramadan, or a fast of expiation upon him. As for fasting voluntarily, or praying voluntarily, there is no evidence for this as far as we know. The evidence is only for when a mandatory fast was upon him. In that case, it is recommended to fast on his behalf. If fasting is not feasible, feed a poor person on his behalf for each day, half a sa' of food, if fasting on his behalf is not feasible. If one broke the fast of Ramadan due to travel, or a woman due to menstruation or post-natal bleeding, and then she was lax and died before making it up, or a man died after travel before making it up, then it is prescribed for his relatives or others to fast on his behalf. If no one fasts on his behalf, feed a poor person from the estate on his behalf for each day, half a sa' for each day. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. He asks Your Eminence about the one who is accountable and the one who is not accountable in ........
The Shaykh: There is no harm .... just as mentioned earlier regarding the one who is accountable and the one who is not accountable. There is nothing wrong if one gives charity on behalf of the one who is accountable or the one who is not accountable, or supplicates for him, or performs Hajj on his behalf, or 'Umrah; that benefits him. And the doer has a reward; the deceased has a reward, and the doer has a reward.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Following this, a message reached the program from one of the listening brothers who preferred not to have his name mentioned. He has many questions, among which is one that says: Supplication is the best thing for the deceased, but does the reward of tasbih, dhikr, reciting the Noble Qur'an, prayer, voluntary fasting, and giving charity in the form of clothes, food, and the like reach him? We know that the reward of these deeds belongs to the deceased, and the doer has no share in their reward. This was mentioned in one of the episodes of *Nur 'ala al-Debar*, but the doer also repeats it for himself, such as reciting Surat al-Ikhlas ten times, intending the reward for the deceased, and then reciting it ten more times for himself. The deceased has been dead for thirteen years and two months. May Allah reward you with good. What is the ruling if the deceased had not reached puberty? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
Charity on behalf of the deceased benefits the deceased, whether in the form of clothing, money, or food, by the consensus of the Muslims. Likewise, supplication for the deceased for forgiveness, mercy, high ranks, and safety from the Fire benefits the deceased, whether the deceased was an adult or below the age of puberty. Thus, supplication and all forms of charity benefit the deceased. The deceased benefits from charity and supplication, even if he was a minor who had not reached puberty. Likewise, Hajj and 'Umrah performed on his behalf.
As for recitation... reciting the Qur'an for the deceased, or tasbih, or tahlil, we do not know of any proof for this, and there is no evidence that it reaches the deceased. Therefore, the best and most cautious course is to leave that alone. Some scholars have claimed that it reaches the deceased, but as far as we know, there is no evidence for this, whether one reads for the deceased, or does tasbih and tahlil for him, or fasts voluntarily for him. As far as I know, there is no evidence for this.
What is known from the evidence of the Shari'ah is supplication for him, charity on his behalf; all of this reaches the deceased and benefits the deceased. Hajj on his behalf, 'Umrah on his behalf, and paying off his debt; this benefits him. Fasting on his behalf if he had a fast upon him, if he died with a fast of Ramadan upon him, or a fast of a vow, or an expiation, it is fasted on his behalf. This benefits him, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If anyone dies in a state (that he had to complete) some fasts, his heir must fast on his behalf.
من مات وعليه صيام؛ صام عنه وليهHe was asked (peace and blessings be upon him) about one who died with a fast upon him, so he ordered the questioner to fast on behalf of the one who died, who had a fast of a vow, a fast of Ramadan, or a fast of expiation upon him. As for fasting voluntarily, or praying voluntarily, there is no evidence for this as far as we know. The evidence is only for when a mandatory fast was upon him. In that case, it is recommended to fast on his behalf. If fasting is not feasible, feed a poor person on his behalf for each day, half a sa' of food, if fasting on his behalf is not feasible. If one broke the fast of Ramadan due to travel, or a woman due to menstruation or post-natal bleeding, and then she was lax and died before making it up, or a man died after travel before making it up, then it is prescribed for his relatives or others to fast on his behalf. If no one fasts on his behalf, feed a poor person from the estate on his behalf for each day, half a sa' for each day. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good. He asks Your Eminence about the one who is accountable and the one who is not accountable in ........
The Shaykh: There is no harm .... just as mentioned earlier regarding the one who is accountable and the one who is not accountable. There is nothing wrong if one gives charity on behalf of the one who is accountable or the one who is not accountable, or supplicates for him, or performs Hajj on his behalf, or 'Umrah; that benefits him. And the doer has a reward; the deceased has a reward, and the doer has a reward.
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.