THINGS THAT BENIFIT A PERSON AFTER HIS/HER DEMISE

 

 

WHAT BENIFITS THE DECEASED ?

In Islam, there are several acts that can benefit the deceased after their death, as mentioned in the Quran and Hadith. 

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### **1. Supplication (Dua) for the Deceased**

 

**Quran: **

 

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ

 

> *"And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith.’"*

 

**(Surah Al-Hashr 59:10) **

 

**Hadith: **

 

إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ

 

> *"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, and a righteous child who prays for him."*

 

**(Sahih Muslim 1631) **

 

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### **2. Charity (Sadaqah) on Behalf of the Deceased**

 

**Hadith: **

 

أَنَّ رَجُلًا قَالَ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ أُمِّيَ افْتُلِتَتْ نَفْسُهَا، وَأَظُنُّهَا لَوْ تَكَلَّمَتْ تَصَدَّقَتْ، فَهَلْ لَهَا أَجْرٌ إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ عَنْهَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ

 

> *"A man said to the Prophet (ﷺ), ‘My mother died suddenly, and I think if she had spoken, she would have given in charity. Will she have a reward if I give charity on her behalf?’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Yes.’"*

 

**(Sahih al-Bukhari 1388, Sahih Muslim 1004) **

 

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### **3. Fasting on Behalf of the Deceased**

 

**Hadith: **

 

 **"مَنْ مَاتَ وَعَلَيْهِ صِيَامٌ صَامَ عَنْهُ وَلِيُّهُ"**

 

> *"Whoever dies while owing fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf."*

 

**(Sahih al-Bukhari 1952, Sahih Muslim 1147) **

 

  **According to imaam Abu Hanifa R.A : the guardian will give fidya and not fast **

 

Ibn Abbas, from the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said: 'No one should pray for another, nor should anyone fast for another. But instead, one should feed a mudda (about 2.2 liters) of wheat in place of each day.'".

 

 ﻭﻗﺪ ﺭﻭﻯ ﺍﻟﻨﺴﺎﺋﻲ ﺑﺴﻨﺪﻩ

 ﻋﻦ ﺍﺑﻦ ﻋﺒﺎﺱ ، ﻋﻦ ﺍﻟﻨﺒﻲ ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﻟﻠﻪ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ ، ﺃﻧﻪ ﻗﺎﻝ : ﻻ ﻳﺼﻠﻲ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻋﻦ ﺃﺣﺪ ، ﻭﻻ ﻳﺼﻮﻡ ﺃﺣﺪ ﻋﻦ ﺃﺣﺪ ، ﻭﻟﻜﻦ ﻳﻄﻌﻢ ﻋﻨﻪ ﻣﻜﺎﻥ ﻛﻞ ﻳﻮﻡ ﻣﺪﺍ ﻣﻦ ﺣﻨﻄﺔ 

 

Our Mother ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her), narrates with the chain from ‘Amra bint ‘Abdur Rahman saying, “I ask ‘Aisha saying, ‘My mother died, and she owes fasts for Ramadan, is it right for me to make them up for her?’ She replied, ‘No. Rather to give in place of each day of fasting, charity is better than your fasting.”

 

[Tahawi]

 

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### **4. Hajj and Umrah on Behalf of the Deceased**

 

**Hadith: **

 

أَنَّ امْرَأَةً جَاءَتْ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ: إِنَّ أُمِّي نَذَرَتْ أَنْ تَحُجَّ فَلَمْ تَحُجَّ حَتَّى مَاتَتْ أَفَأَحُجُّ عَنْهَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ حُجِّي عَنْهَا

 

> *"A woman asked the Prophet (ﷺ), ‘My mother vowed to perform Hajj but died before doing so. Should I perform Hajj on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Yes, perform Hajj for her.’"*

 

**(Sahih al-Bukhari 7315) **

 

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### **5. Reciting Quran for the Deceased**

 

While there is **no direct Quranic verse or authentic Hadith** stating that Quran recitation can be *directly* transferred to the deceased, **scholars differ** on this matter.

 

Some permit it based on general principles of charity and kindness, while others say there is no explicit evidence.

 

- Some scholars argue that Quran recitation can be a form of ongoing benefit if taught or recited for the deceased.

 

- **Actions of the Companions & Early Muslims (Athar): **

 

Some early Muslims, like **Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal**, permitted Quran recitation at graves.

 

#### **Fatwas from Major Scholars**

 

- **Ibn Taymiyyah (Hanbali Scholar): **

 

> *"The deceased benefits from all types of good deeds done on their behalf, including Quran recitation."*

 

**(Majmu’ al-Fatawa 24/324) **

 

- **Imam Nawawi (Shafi’i Scholar):**

 

> *"It is recommended to recite Quran and gift its reward to the deceased."*

 

**(Al-Adhkar p. 149) **

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### ** The Salafi/Wahhabi View (Minority Opinion: Not Permissible) **

 

Some scholars (**particularly Salafi/Wahhabi scholars like Ibn Baz and Al-Albani**) reject the idea, arguing:

 

#### **Lack of Direct Evidence from Quran & Sunnah**

 

However, **making dua after Quran recitation** for the deceased is permissible.

 

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### **6. Paying Off the Deceased’s Debts**

 

**Hadith: **

 

 **"نَفْسُ الْمُؤْمِنِ مُعَلَّقَةٌ بِدَيْنِهِ حَتَّى يُقْضَى عَنْهُ"**

 

> *"The soul of a believer remains suspended until his debt is paid off."*

 

**(Sunan Ibn Majah 2413, Hasan) **

### **7.Seven things to benefit a person after his death:

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ

إِنَّ مِمَّا يَلْحَقُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَحَسَنَاتِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ: عِلْمًا عَلَّمَهُ وَنَشَرَهُ، وَوَلَدًا صَالِحًا تَرَكَهُ، أَوْ مُصْحَفًا وَرَّثَهُ، أَوْ مَسْجِدًا بَنَاهُ، أَوْ بَيْتًا لِابْنِ السَّبِيلِ بَنَاهُ، أَوْ نَهْرًا أَجْرَاهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فِي صِحَّتِهِ وَحَيَاتِهِ، تَلْحَقُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهِ

 

*(رَوَاهُ ابْنُ مَاجَهْ بِإِسْنَادٍ حَسَنٍ، وَالْبَيْهَقِيُّ)*

 

Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

**"Among the deeds and good acts that will reach a believer after his death are: knowledge that he taught and spread, a righteous son whom he left behind, a Qur’an that he bequeathed (to others), a mosque that he built, a house that he built for wayfarers (Ibn as-Sabeel), a river that he caused to flow (for public benefit), or charity that he gave from his wealth during his life while he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death."**

 

*(Reported by Ibn Mājah with a* ḥasan *chain, and Al-Bayhaqī)*

 

### **Summary of What Benefits the Deceased: **

 

1. **Dua (Supplication)** – Asking Allah to forgive and have mercy on them.

 

2. **Sadaqah (Charity)** – Giving in their name.

 

3. **Fasting** – If they owed obligatory fasts.

 

4. **Hajj/Umrah** – Performing it on their behalf.

 

5. **Paying Debts** – Settling their financial or religious obligations.

 

6. **Righteous Children** – Their prayers and good deeds benefit parents after death.

 

### **Summary Answer**

 

✅ **Yes, many scholars allow it** based on general Islamic principles.

 

❌ **Some reject it** due to lack of explicit evidence.

 

⚖ **Recommended: ** Focus on **Dua, Sadaqah, and other proven acts** while being cautious about Quran recitation.

 

May Allah grant us the ability to benefit our deceased loved ones and accept our deeds.

**Ameen. **