Is it obligatory for a son to make du'a for his father after his death?
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Question:
Is it obligatory for a son to make du'a for his father after his death, especially if the father, during his lifetime, treated him very differently from a brother of the same age? And is there a sin on the son for not making du'a for him, or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
There is no doubt that it is prescribed for a son to make du'a for his father, even if his father fell short in his rights toward him during his lifetime, for the right of the father is great, and making du'a for him is among the most important forms of dutifulness.
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Riyad as-Salihin 1383 Al-Imam Muslim narrated it in his "Sahih."
It is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that it was said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, is there any dutifulness remaining for my parents that I can do for them after their death?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3664Hasan (Darussalam), meaning: making du'a for them, such as His saying: [Surat al-Tawbah: 103], so praying for them is part of making du'a, and among that is the funeral prayer, Sunan Abi Dawud 5142Da'if (Al-Albani) meaning: the bequest they entrust, Sunan Abi Dawud 5142Da'if (Al-Albani) meaning: if the bequest is lawful—there is no legal impediment to it—then fulfilling that bequest is part of being dutiful to them, the friends of the father and mother, Sunan Ibn Majah 3664Hasan (Darussalam) all of this is part of being dutiful to them after death.
The first: praying for them and seeking forgiveness for them; all of this is du'a.
The second: fulfilling their trust after their death, the bequest that does not contradict the Shari'ah.
The third: honoring their friend.
The fourth: maintaining the family ties that are not maintained except through them, such as your paternal uncles, maternal uncles, paternal aunts, and maternal aunts. All of these are relatives of the parents. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sahih Muslim 2552c And in another wording: Muslim narrated it from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1903Sahih (Darussalam), and in the other wording: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1903Sahih (Darussalam) meaning: the loved ones of his father, so this is part of being dutiful to the parents.
And Allah said regarding the two disbelievers, while they were disbelievers: [Surat Luqman: 15], so He commanded that regarding the disbelieving parents, the son should accompany them in this worldly life with kindness: by advising them, being kind to them, calling them to guidance, and striving for them to return to the truth and repent, among other forms of kindness in this worldly life, while they are disbelievers. So how much more so with the two Muslims?!
And if there was something from the father of falling short in the rights of the son—such as preferring some over others, or boycotting him, or expelling him, or something like that—then this does not prevent being dutiful to him and making du'a for him, and the like of that.
Is it obligatory for a son to make du'a for his father after his death, especially if the father, during his lifetime, treated him very differently from a brother of the same age? And is there a sin on the son for not making du'a for him, or not? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer:
There is no doubt that it is prescribed for a son to make du'a for his father, even if his father fell short in his rights toward him during his lifetime, for the right of the father is great, and making du'a for him is among the most important forms of dutifulness.
It is established from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات ابنُ آدم انقطع عملُه إلا من ثلاثٍ: صدقة جارية، أو علم يُنتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهIt is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that it was said to him: "O Messenger of Allah, is there any dutifulness remaining for my parents that I can do for them after their death?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Yes offering the funeral prayer for them, praying for forgiveness for them
نعم، الصلاة عليهما، والاستغفار لهماPray for them
الصلاة عليهماAnd pray for them; indeed, your prayer is a tranquility for them
وَصَلِّ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ صَلَاتَكَ سَكَنٌ لَهُمْyou can invoke blessings on them, forgiveness for them, carry out their final instructions after their death
الصلاة عليهما، والاستغفار لهما، وإنفاذ عهدهما من بعدهماcarry out their final instructions after their death
وإنفاذ عهدهما من بعدهماAnd honoring their friend
وإكرام صديقهماand upholding the ties of kinship which you would not have were it nor for them
وصلة الرحم التي لا تُوصل إلا بهماThe first: praying for them and seeking forgiveness for them; all of this is du'a.
The second: fulfilling their trust after their death, the bequest that does not contradict the Shari'ah.
The third: honoring their friend.
The fourth: maintaining the family ties that are not maintained except through them, such as your paternal uncles, maternal uncles, paternal aunts, and maternal aunts. All of these are relatives of the parents. It is established from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
The finest act of goodness is the kind treatment of a person to the loved ones of his father
إنَّ من أبرِّ البر: صلة الرجل أهل ودِّ أبيهIndeed, the most dutiful act of dutifulness
إنَّ أبرَّ البرAmong the most dutiful of deeds is that a man nurture relations with the people his father was friends with.
إنَّ أبر البر أن يصل الرجلُ أهل وُدِّ أبيهthe Prophet said: "Among the most dutiful of deeds is that a man nurture relations with the people his father was friends with."
إنَّ من أبرِّ البر أن يصل الرجلُ أهلَ وُدِّ أبيهAnd Allah said regarding the two disbelievers, while they were disbelievers:
But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness
وَإِنْ جَاهَدَاكَ عَلَى أَنْ تُشْرِكَ بِي مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًاAnd if there was something from the father of falling short in the rights of the son—such as preferring some over others, or boycotting him, or expelling him, or something like that—then this does not prevent being dutiful to him and making du'a for him, and the like of that.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.