It is better for the believer not to do that and not to read Qur’aan for the dead or the living, or to pray on their behalf, or to observe voluntary fasts on their behalf, because there is no evidence for any of that. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not do that for his deceased Muslim loved ones such as his daughters who died during his lifetime, and the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) did not do that or approve of it, as far as we know. There are two scholarly views, the more correct of which is that it does not reach the deceased because there is no evidence to that effect. With regard to reading Qur’aan, the scholars differed as to whether the reward for that will reach the deceased.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about giving the reward for reading Qur’aan and charity to one's mother, whether she is alive or dead. So why should we ignore that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has encouraged us to do, and turn to other things that he did not do and that none of his companions did? All goodness is to be found in the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions. If we assume that the reward for all righteous deeds reaches the deceased, then the best thing that can benefit the deceased is du’aa’. With regard to du’aa’ and charity, there is scholarly consensus that the reward for them reaches the deceased and that they are mentioned in sharee’ah. So the acts of worship are restricted to those mentioned in the texts, and there is no room for analogy or personal opinions. If it were good they would have done that before us. Nor is it narrated that any of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) did that. Hence the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not recommend or encourage his ummah to do that, and he did not tell them to do that through any statement or gesture. The exceptions for which there is evidence that the reward does reach the deceased are: Hajj, ‘Umrah, obligatory fasts, charity and du’aa’.Īl-Haafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘And that man can have nothing but what he does’:įrom this verse al-Shaafa’i and those who followed him understood that the reward for reading Qur’aan does not reach the deceased, because it is not something that they did or earned. If it were prescribed, then they would have done it before us.

No such thing has been narrated from any of the Sahaabah either. The paternal uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – Hamzah (may Allaah be pleased with him) – died, as did his wife Khadeejah and three of his daughters, but it is not narrated that he read Qur’aan for any of them, or offered a sacrifice or fasted or prayed on their behalf. Narrated by Muslim, 1631, from the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). “And that man can have nothing but what he does”Īnd the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a man dies all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity (sadaqah jaariyah), beneficial knowledge and a righteous son who will pray for him.” The evidence for that is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): There are two views:ġ – That any righteous deed may be given to the dead and that (the reward) reaches them – such as reading Qur’aan, fasting, praying and other acts of worship.Ģ – That no righteous deed reaches the dead except those for which there is evidence that it reaches them.

The scholars differed as to whether it is permissible to give reward to the dead and whether that reaches them.

Isale sawaab