The Ruling on Assigning the Reward of Seeking Forgiveness to the Deceased, the Legitimacy of Endowing Water in Mosques, and Facilitating Hajj for Others

Question:
This questioner, Umm 'Abd al-'Aziz, says: What is the ruling on assigning the reward of seeking forgiveness to the deceased? And which is better, O honorable Shaykh: placing water from an endowment for a deceased person, or using it to help a person who recently embraced Islam perform Hajj through the community offices, may Allah guide them?

Answer:
Volunteering to seek forgiveness and assigning its reward to the deceased is not prescribed. However, making du'a, saying: "O Allah, forgive him," is permissible. But seeking forgiveness for yourself and saying: "O Allah, assign its reward to him," has no basis for this. But you can say: "O Allah, forgive so-and-so, O Allah, have mercy on him, O Allah, save him from the Fire." This is du'a you make for him. But assigning the reward of seeking forgiveness has no basis; your seeking forgiveness is for yourself. But you say: "O Allah, forgive so-and-so, O Allah, have mercy on him, O Allah, save him from the Fire," and the like.
And charity with money for those fasting in the mosques and for others is an act of drawing near to Allah, and helping a needy person with Hajj is an act of drawing near to Allah. They are all good acts of drawing near, all beneficial acts, of great benefit, and they carry abundant reward. As for preferring one over the other, Allah knows best. But providing water in the mosques, Allah benefits a great multitude through it. As for helping one person with Hajj, it is individual assistance. But placing water in the mosques, Allah benefits many nations through it. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah preserve you, O Shaykh.