By: central-mosque.com
Source: central-mosque.com
There is nothing wrong with passing the reward of good deeds to family, friends and other Muslims whether they are dead or alive and it is hoped in the Mercy of Allah (SWT) that they will Insha’Allah be benefitted thereby.
The Basis – Three Specific Scenarios
The Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him) has specifically spoken about three specific scenarios by which the dead can benefit after their death. Sayyidina Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah’s Messenger (Allah’s peace be upon him) as saying: “When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased).” [Muslim]
Scenario One: Donating a garden in charity to the mother – Sayyidina Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the mother of Sa’ad bin ‘Ubada (Allah be pleased with them) died in his absence. He (Allah be pleased with him) said, “O Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him)! My mother died in my absence, will it be of any benefit to her if I give charity on her behalf?” The Prophet (Allah’s peace be upon him) said, “Yes,” Sa’ad said, “I make you a witness that I gave my garden called Al Makhraf in charity on her behalf.” [Bukhari]
Scenario Two: Charity by children relieves the burden of sin of parents and the earth is forbidden from decomposing the bodies of the prophets of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon them all).
Sayyidina Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person said to the Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him), “My father died and left behind property without making any will regarding it. Would he be relieved of the burden of his sin if I give charity on his behalf? the Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him) said, “Yes.” [Muslim]
Scenario Three: Performing Hajj on behalf of old Father – Sayyidina ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Al-Fadl (his brother) was riding behind the Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him) and a woman from the tribe of Khath’am came and Al-Fadl started looking at her and she started looking at him. The Prophet (Allah’s peace be upon him) turned Al-Fadl’s face to the other side. The woman said, “O Allah’s Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him)! The obligation of Hajj enjoined by Allah on His devotees has become due on my father and he is old and weak, and he cannot sit firm on the Mount; may I perform Hajj on his behalf?” The Prophet (Allah’s peace be upon him) replied, “Yes, you may.” That happened during the Hajj-al-Wida (Farewell Hajj). [Muslim]
Scholarly Conclusion – the Merit of All beneficial and Good Deeds
From the relevant hadiths, such as those mentioned above, scholars have concluded that there is no restriction on the nature, type and number of optional good deeds which may be performed with the intention of passing the reward to other Muslims and the reward of the doer is not diminished in the least. There is no restriction because no specific restriction has been placed by Allah (Most High) or by the Messenger of Allah (Allah’s peace be upon him).
