The Ruling on Dedication of the Reward of Surat al-Ikhlas to the Deceased

Question:
A message reached the program from listener Ahmad Hasan Ahmad from al-Kharj. Our brother began his message by saying:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. I am a Sudanese resident in the city of al-Kharj, and my father passed away to the mercy of his Lord two months ago. Among the customs in our country, Sudan, without any evidence, is for the son to recite Surat al-Ikhlas eleven times after every prayer for his deceased father and dedicate the reward of what he recited to the soul of his late father. O Shaykh, is there any evidence for this practice?
Please inform us about it, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This practice has no evidence; rather, it is a religious innovation (bid'ah). Even if their group has become accustomed to it, customs do not justify innovations. It is obligatory to abandon this innovation and to beware of it. It is sufficient for you to make du'a' for your father and to give charity on his behalf. This is what is prescribed: du'a', charity, Hajj on his behalf, and 'Umrah. All of this benefits him by the permission of Allah.
So we advise you to make much du'a' for your father for forgiveness and mercy, and likewise to give charity on his behalf with whatever is easy, even if it is a little. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) will reward you and replace for you what you spent in this path with a great replacement, and He will reward you for your du'a's for your father. And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
So among what reaches the deceased after his death is the du'a' of the child. "Child" includes both male and female; both the daughter and the son are called "child," as the Exalted said: [al-Nisa: 11]. So "children" is used for males and females, and "child" is used for the male and the female. The male is called "son" and the female "daughter." And his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: means: male or female.
So among the dutifulness to the parent after his death is making du'a' for him. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked by some of the Companions who said: "O Messenger of Allah, is there any dutifulness to my parents remaining by which I can be dutiful to them after their death?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He mentioned five things:
Praying for them, meaning: making du'a' for them. And among praying for them is the funeral prayer (janazah) as well.
Seeking forgiveness for them.
And the third: If they bequeathed something, you carry it out if it is a bequest that does not contradict the Shari'ah, you carry it out. And the fourth: Such as honoring your paternal uncles and aunts, and your maternal uncles and aunts, and being kind to them, and maintaining ties with them. All of this is from being dutiful to your parents.
And the fifth: If they had a friend, you honor him with whatever you can of good words, visiting, and inviting him to the house to honor him with hospitality, and consoling him if he is poor. All of this is from honoring a friend. And Allah is the One to be asked for help.

The presenter: Allah is the Helper. May Allah reward you with good.