Ruling on making up missed prayers on behalf of the deceased
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Q335: The questioner says: If a person dies and during his lifetime he did not pray at all, or he prayed at times and left it off at other times, is it permissible to make up the prayer on his behalf after his death? And if that is not the case, is it beneficial to give charity on his behalf, or to recite the Qur'an for him? And what are the things that benefit the deceased after his death from those he left behind?
A335: First: The prayer is not performed; no one prays on behalf of another, and prayer is a physical act in which representation is not allowed, neither for a living person nor for a deceased one.
Second: As for the one who intentionally left off the prayer and continued in that state until he died, his ruling is that he is a disbeliever, may Allah protect us from that. It is not permissible to pray for his mercy, nor to give charity on his behalf, nor to make du'a' for him; because he died upon disbelief. For the one who intentionally leaves off the prayer and continues in that until he dies is a disbeliever. It is not permissible for a Muslim to pray for his mercy, nor to seek forgiveness for him, nor to give charity on his behalf. As for what reaches the deceased after him in terms of deeds, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1383 So these matters reach the deceased. If he endows something that is beneficial in the paths of good, and this endowment continues after his death, then this deed reaches him as long as this deed remains. Likewise, if he teaches knowledge that is beneficial in the useful Islamic sciences, then these students who benefit people after him, the reward returns to him while he is dead; because it is the teaching of good. And likewise, if he authors writings that Muslims benefit from, then the reward of that which is benefited from returns to the deceased as long as they remain. And likewise, if he endows useful books for Muslims that they benefit from, or mushafs of the Noble Qur'an, all of this is from the knowledge that is benefited from
after his death, and the reward reaches him with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And likewise, the righteous offspring who make du'a' for him, from males and females, this reaches him in reward if Allah accepts their supplications. And likewise, charity on behalf of the deceased, for it has been reported regarding the deceased that charity is given on his behalf, and that it benefits him. And what is the position of a group of scholars is that if a Muslim performs an act of obedience and dedicates its reward to a living or deceased Muslim, then that will benefit him. And likewise, Hajj, for it has come in the evidence that it benefits the deceased, and that it clears his conscience if it was obligatory upon him, and it benefits him if it was voluntary. So Hajj, charity, du'a', and endowment, all of this is from what reaches the deceased after his death.
A335: First: The prayer is not performed; no one prays on behalf of another, and prayer is a physical act in which representation is not allowed, neither for a living person nor for a deceased one.
Second: As for the one who intentionally left off the prayer and continued in that state until he died, his ruling is that he is a disbeliever, may Allah protect us from that. It is not permissible to pray for his mercy, nor to give charity on his behalf, nor to make du'a' for him; because he died upon disbelief. For the one who intentionally leaves off the prayer and continues in that until he dies is a disbeliever. It is not permissible for a Muslim to pray for his mercy, nor to seek forgiveness for him, nor to give charity on his behalf. As for what reaches the deceased after him in terms of deeds, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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 ابن آدم انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث، من صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو لهafter his death, and the reward reaches him with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). And likewise, the righteous offspring who make du'a' for him, from males and females, this reaches him in reward if Allah accepts their supplications. And likewise, charity on behalf of the deceased, for it has been reported regarding the deceased that charity is given on his behalf, and that it benefits him. And what is the position of a group of scholars is that if a Muslim performs an act of obedience and dedicates its reward to a living or deceased Muslim, then that will benefit him. And likewise, Hajj, for it has come in the evidence that it benefits the deceased, and that it clears his conscience if it was obligatory upon him, and it benefits him if it was voluntary. So Hajj, charity, du'a', and endowment, all of this is from what reaches the deceased after his death.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.