The Ruling on Reciting the Qur'an, Fasting, and Giving Charity on Behalf of the Deceased

Question:
This is a question from the sender Muhammad al-Hanani, from Amman in Jordan. He asks: Is it permissible to recite the Qur'an, perform voluntary fasts, and give charity to the poor on behalf of the deceased? And is it permissible to make du'a for the deceased during the prayer?

Answer:
As for charity, yes, it is a recommended practice. It is established in authentic hadiths from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he was asked about this, and he said to the questioner: He clarified that charity benefits the deceased. The Muslims have reached scholarly consensus on this: that charity on behalf of the deceased benefits him, if he is a Muslim. Charity from his children or from others benefits him. Likewise, making du'a and seeking forgiveness for him benefits the deceased.
As for reciting the Qur'an for the deceased, there is scholarly disagreement among some of the scholars. Some scholars hold that it reaches the deceased, while other scholars hold that it does not reach him, because it was not transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from the Companions. Therefore, the preferable course is not to recite the Qur'an for the deceased; this is the preferable, better, and most cautious course. Rather, one should recite for oneself, and make du'a for his deceased ones when he completes the recitation, or during the recitation, asking for forgiveness and mercy for them.
As for reciting specifically for them so that the reward of completing the recitation is given to them, the preferable course is to leave that off; because there is no evidence for it; because this was not preserved from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions that they did it.
Some scholars held that there is nothing wrong with it, like charity; that there is nothing wrong with reciting the Qur'an, then giving its reward to his father or his mother, or the like. However, the preferable and better course is to leave that off.
As for prayers, no. Fasting, no. One does not perform voluntary prayers on their behalf, nor does one fast on their behalf; because there is no evidence. Nothing was transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from the Companions indicating that one fasts a voluntary fast on behalf of so-and-so, or prays on his behalf. Therefore, what one should do is leave that off. Yes.