Matters that benefit the deceased after his death

Question:
From the Republic of Sudan, the listener: Yasser Muhammad, sent a question saying: Do the charity and the annual commemorations 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, the charities, the sacrifices, and the 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: .
In the two Sahihs, it is narrated that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah, my mother died and she did not leave a bequest. Will she receive a reward if I give charity on her behalf?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
And a group of people asked him about their mothers and fathers who died with an unfulfilled Hajj obligation. Should they perform Hajj on their behalf? He said: And he said to another: , and so on.
So, charity 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. If they owed fasting due to a vow, or an expiation, or the fast of Ramadan, and they were lenient and did not fast after Allah had cured them of their illness, if they were sick, this is fasted on their behalf and benefits them.
As for the one who died while still ill, it is not fasted on his behalf; because he is excused.
As for the innovations that people invent, no. Inventing things that Allah has not prescribed does not benefit, rather it harms. It harms the one who invented it, not the deceased, rather it harms them, the ones who invented it. Inventing celebrations for the Mawlid, or celebrating things for which Allah has not sent down any authority, for the sake of the deceased, and annual commemorations that Allah has not prescribed for celebrating on, such as the night of the twenty-seventh of Rajab, or the night of the middle of Sha'ban, or other nights they invent, where they hold celebrations with things they do for the deceased. This does not benefit; this harms the one who does it. These are blameworthy innovations. And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
And the only things that benefit the deceased are charity on their behalf, du'a for them, seeking forgiveness, Hajj on their behalf, and fasting on their behalf, if they owed fasting, and du'a for them. All of this benefits the deceased. Yes, and the sacrifice on their behalf is also charity. The sacrifice for the deceased is charity. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.