Back to 'Aqeedah

Do the Deceased Benefit from Those Who are Alive? (Part II)

An Important Lecture from Imam University

Part II

This research is the summary of a series of lectures delivered at the Imam University/Faculty of Shari’ah. They deal with important issues and aspects of Aqeedah. Due to its nature, I have abridged this topic. I ask Allah that all those who read it would benefit from it. Ameen.

Second Issue: Now that we have affirmed that the deceased would benefit from the deeds of the living…would the deceased benefit from every deed or from some of them? This Khilaaf (difference) is present amongst Ahlus-Sunnah.

Important Note: Although Ahlus-Sunnah differed amongst themselves in this issue, none of them stated that the other (i.e. who held a different opinion) was not part of Ahlus-Sunnah due to this difference. A Muslim should not ‘jump the gun’ and throw around titles such as: ‘Mubtadi’ and ‘Faasiq’.

Important note: Keep in mind that we are not talking about the case in which it is compulsory upon the person to fast, and he dies while not being able to complete the fast or prayer; rather, we are talking about the case where a person gives the reward of his deed to the deceased.

What the Scholars agreed upon and differed over:

The scholars agreed that it is lawful to give the reward of acts of worship such as Sadaqah (Zakat and other like acts of worship which deal with money) or acts of worship which combine money and physical actions to the deceased. However, they differed concerning pure acts of worship (such as Salah, and recitation of Qur’an).

The most correct opinion: Sheik Islam b. Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: ‘The authentic proofs point out that one should fast on behalf of the deceased if he vowed to fast, and the Prophet, may Allah exalt his mention equated it with paying off the debt. As for the Hajj it is lawful to give its reward to the deceased and there is only an odd difference of opinion in this case.’

From islamhouse.com