Islamic marriage advice and family advice

Isaal-e-Sawab for the Deceased Relatives

Doing Prayers

Worship of Allah Izza wa Jal

Dear brother and Sisters in islam

Recently i went to listen to someone who was giving lectures on how to convey Isale sawab to our dead relatives. Since then i am in a great confusion, because i learned there that one could give sadaqa, perform ummra, hajj and ask for forgiveness for one's relative who has departed from this world as per prophetic traditions, however one cannot read Quaran with the intention of conveying that sawad to death relative, even though one is reading it individually nor can one perform nafil namaz with the intention of conveying that reward to one's dead relatives.

Well my aunt who was very close to me died and everyday i do read quaran with the intention of conveying that sawab to her, I want to know whether this is the right method or whether what i am doing is wrong.

Well i know that giving sadaqa and hajj and ummra is permissible as per authetic hadith, but what if somebody is poor and cannot afford such actions as mean of isale sawab to his relative, then i think that his relative would be deprived of any reward and this would be unfair to them as in comparison to people who died and have relatives who can afford to do ummrah hajj and give sadaqa on behalf of their dead relatives.

I believe that islam is a very fair religion with equality of chances for every one,ie the rich and the poor should have chances to earn rewards from Allah who is the most merciful.

thus i would be grateful if you could let me know whether the mean i am using with intention of conveying isale sawab is right because i really want the my action i.e. reading quaran and doing nafil namaz benefit my dead relatives.

Grateful if i can have an urgent reply

~ shana


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7 Responses »

  1. Assalamualaikum

    This is to advise that there seems to be a problem with the page where new users have to register in order to draft a question. I have been trying to register in order to ask a question for the past week, but I cannot register. I try at each time but no password is emailed to me. Please help.

  2. assalamalikum

    pl read this detaiks are there the person who dies his account is closed and you cannot remmit nayhting in his account becaue allah told him to read quran in in his lifetime and that he di or her didnt do instead they were engaged in the duniya full fledge and now you cannot become asvaior for her hence the esale sawwab cncept is a farce innovatted by our india pak and bangla desh peols self appointed scholars and useless muftis-
    http://therealislam1.wordpress.com/2010/08/21/azab-e-barzakh/

  3. Regarding giving the rewards of good deeds to someone who passed away has it limits. Islam allows this within its limits, only if there is evidence.

    Followings are allowed-

    1) Du'a. You can make dua asking Allah to have mercy and forgive the deceased person.

    2) Making up fasts for the missed obligatory fasts by the deceased.

    3) Paying off debts.

    4) Fullfilling vows to do an act of worship.

    5) Performing hajj on deceased behalf.

    6) Rightious deeds done by the children of the deceased.

    Regarding reading Qur'an,
    there is no report from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to indicate that he read Qur’an and gave the reward for that to the dead, whether they were his relatives or others. If the reward could reach them, he would have been keen to do that and would have taught it to his ummah so that they could help the dead thereby, for he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was filled with compassion and mercy towards his ummah. His successors, the Khulafaa’ al-Raashideen, and the rest of his companions, followed his guidance (may Allaah be pleased with them all), and we do not know of any of them giving the reward for reading Qur’aan to someone else. The best of all goodness resides in following the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and of the Khulafaa’ al-Raashideen and the rest of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them), and evil resides in following bid’ah and innovated matters. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned us about that when he said, “Beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is a bid’ah (innovation), and every bid’ah is a going astray” and, “Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e., Islam) that is not a part of it, will have it rejected.” So on this basis, it is not permissible to read Qur’an for the dead or to give the reward for this reading to them. Doing that is bid’ah.

    Wallahu alam.

  4. Assalamualaikum,

    Concerning the matter of good deeds to the dead, the general principle is that it is not possible, except what the following hadith says:

    The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "When a person dies, all his deeds come to an end except three: sadaqah jaariyah (ongoing charity, e.g. a waqf or endowment), beneficial knowledge (which he has left behind), or a righteous child who will pray for him." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no 1376; he said this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth)

    The brother has rightly mentioned the possible ways to benefit the dead, which are exceptions. I would however like to quote some Ahaadeeth.

    Concernig Sadaqah:

    ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) reported that a man said to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): "My mother has passed away, and if she could have spoken, she would have given something in charity. Will she receive a reward if I give something on her behalf?" He said, "Yes." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, 1388)

    Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the mother of Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) died when he was away from her. He said: "O Messenger of Allaah, my mother has died and I am away from her. Will it benefit her anything if I give in charity on her behalf?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Then I ask you to be my witness that I am giving my garden al-Mikhraaf (so called because it bore so many dates) in charity on her behalf." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, 2756)

    Concerning Fasting and doing Hajj:

    ‘Abdullaah ibn Buraydah reported that his father (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "While I was sitting with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), a woman came to him and said: ‘I gave my mother a slave-woman in charity, and now my mother has died.’ He said: ‘You have got your reward, and your right of inheritance has brought your gift back to you.’ She said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, she still had one month to fast – can I fast it on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Fast it on her behalf.’ She said, ‘She never went to Hajj – can I perform Hajj on her behalf?’ He said, ‘Perform Hajj on her behalf.’" (Reported by Muslim, may Allaah have mercy on him, in his Saheeh, no. 1149)

    I was discussing with my friend about doing Umrah on behalf of the deceased. Hajj is mentioned in the hadith, what about Umrah? I found a mention by the prominent scholar, our Shaikh, Imam Abdul Azeez bin Baaz Rahimahullah mentions that even Umrah can be performed on behalf of the dead ( Fataawa Ibn Baaz, 17/15.)

    Concerning any other deed such as doing Salah on behalf of the dead, reciting the Quran on their behalf, all of this is Bid'ah and should not be practiced. It is very common in the sub-continent as "Quran Khani" where the Quran is recited by the family members or "hired" students of the madrasah in parts (Juz). This is something newly invented and should not be practiced.

    Muhammad Waseem
    IslamicAnswers.com Editor

  5. Assalamoualaikoum,
    My mum passed away on the 15th of July 2014(17th of ramadan).please pray for her maghfirat and that allah grant her jannat-ul-firdous.
    Jazakallah khair

    • nillofeh, please accept my sympathies for your loss. May Allah have mercy on your mother, forgive her sins, protect her from the torment of the grave, and make her one of the people of Jannah.

      Wael
      IslamicAnswers.com Editor

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