What Reaches the Deceased and What Does Not from Acts of Worship
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Question:
He says: On the night of the festival and Friday, food is brought from every house to the mosque, or to the center of the village, and they eat it. After that, the imam recites from the verses of the Noble Qur'an and concludes with supplication asking for mercy and forgiveness for the deceased, believing that the blessing of the food reaches the deceased. This feast is called: al-Fatihah, or al-Fawatih. The questions regarding this matter are: Does this al-Fatihah benefit the deceased? And is it called charity when the rich person eats it? Then what is the action that the family of the deceased must perform toward their departed one, and which righteous deed reaches him? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
I do not know of any basis in the Shari'ah for this gathering for the deceased mentioned, rather it is a religious innovation. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718b And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1718a.
As for supplication for the deceased and charity on their behalf, this benefits them. Charity benefits the deceased, and supplication benefits the deceased. The funeral prayer, Hajj on behalf of the deceased, 'Umrah on behalf of the deceased, and paying off his debt, all of this benefits the deceased.
As for recitation... reciting al-Fatihah and other than al-Fatihah, there is no evidence for this. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) and others mentioned from some scholars that there is no harm in reciting for the deceased, that one recites for him and the Qur'an returns to him. A group of scholars mentioned this, and Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned it in his book al-Ruh. However, I do not know of any evidence for it. Returning the recitation, meaning that one recites and the reward is returned to the deceased, I do not know of any evidence for it. So leaving it is safer and more appropriate. But there is no disagreement regarding supplication; supplication for the deceased, seeking mercy for him, and supplicating for his forgiveness, this is a known matter, agreed upon by Muslims, that it benefits the deceased. Likewise, charity on his behalf benefits the deceased.
It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that a man asked him and said: O Messenger of Allah! My mother has died, and I think that if she had been able to speak, she would have given charity. Will she have a reward if I give charity on her behalf? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:. So charity benefits the deceased, and supplication for him, and the funeral prayer benefits him. The supplication of Muslims for him benefits him. Hajj on his behalf, 'Umrah, paying off the debt, all of this is a known matter.
As for reciting and returning the reward to him, this is the point of dispute. I do not know of any Shari'ah evidence for the recommendation of that or its legitimacy. The original rule in worship is to follow what is prescribed, this is the original rule, except for what Allah has prescribed through the tongue of His Messenger (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him). So the safest course in this is to leave off recitation for the deceased. But one should supplicate for him, seek mercy for him, give charity on his behalf, perform Hajj on his behalf, and perform 'Umrah on his behalf. All of this is good, and all of it is beneficial. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
He says: On the night of the festival and Friday, food is brought from every house to the mosque, or to the center of the village, and they eat it. After that, the imam recites from the verses of the Noble Qur'an and concludes with supplication asking for mercy and forgiveness for the deceased, believing that the blessing of the food reaches the deceased. This feast is called: al-Fatihah, or al-Fawatih. The questions regarding this matter are: Does this al-Fatihah benefit the deceased? And is it called charity when the rich person eats it? Then what is the action that the family of the deceased must perform toward their departed one, and which righteous deed reaches him? May Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
I do not know of any basis in the Shari'ah for this gathering for the deceased mentioned, rather it is a religious innovation. 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 رد'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 ردAs for supplication for the deceased and charity on their behalf, this benefits them. Charity benefits the deceased, and supplication benefits the deceased. The funeral prayer, Hajj on behalf of the deceased, 'Umrah on behalf of the deceased, and paying off his debt, all of this benefits the deceased.
As for recitation... reciting al-Fatihah and other than al-Fatihah, there is no evidence for this. Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) and others mentioned from some scholars that there is no harm in reciting for the deceased, that one recites for him and the Qur'an returns to him. A group of scholars mentioned this, and Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned it in his book al-Ruh. However, I do not know of any evidence for it. Returning the recitation, meaning that one recites and the reward is returned to the deceased, I do not know of any evidence for it. So leaving it is safer and more appropriate. But there is no disagreement regarding supplication; supplication for the deceased, seeking mercy for him, and supplicating for his forgiveness, this is a known matter, agreed upon by Muslims, that it benefits the deceased. Likewise, charity on his behalf benefits the deceased.
It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that a man asked him and said: O Messenger of Allah! My mother has died, and I think that if she had been able to speak, she would have given charity. Will she have a reward if I give charity on her behalf? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Yes
نعمAs for reciting and returning the reward to him, this is the point of dispute. I do not know of any Shari'ah evidence for the recommendation of that or its legitimacy. The original rule in worship is to follow what is prescribed, this is the original rule, except for what Allah has prescribed through the tongue of His Messenger (may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him). So the safest course in this is to leave off recitation for the deceased. But one should supplicate for him, seek mercy for him, give charity on his behalf, perform Hajj on his behalf, and perform 'Umrah on his behalf. All of this is good, and all of it is beneficial. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.