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I read your answer that quran-khani for the deceased is not permissible.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

i read your answer that quran-khani for the deceased is not permissible. we pray sura yasin, fatiha and ikhlas and send the sawab to our deceased parents. we feed the poor as a sadaqa for the magfirat of our parents. is that not allowed? what did the prophet pray when he visited the grave? how can a living person, a son, pray for the reducing of the torment of the grave of his parents. is reciting of the quran a sawab? can he part the reward of some of his good deeds to them. if not, why is it permissible to do haj for the parents (badla haj). can a person pay back the loan of a deceased? 

 

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Answer:

 

What can one do for the dead

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 53 Surah Najm verses 38-39:

38 Namely that no bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another;

39 That man can have nothing but what he strives for;

 

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'When a person dies all his good deeds cease except for three:

  1. a continuous act of charity (which the deceased did in his lifetime),
  2. beneficial knowledge (which the deceased left behind),
  3. and a righteous son (children) who prays for him'.''

Related by Muslim and Abu Dawood.

 

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'The righteous works that continue to benefit a believer after his death include the knowledge that he taught and spread among others, a righteous son (children) whom he leaves behind, or a copy of the Qur'an that he bequeaths to his inheritors, or a mosque that he built (during his lifetime), or a rest house that he built for the wayfarers, or a canal of water that he dug for the benefit of others, or a charity that he gave out of his property during his life while he was sound of health. He will continue to receive rewards for all these even after his death.'

Related by Ibn Maajah.

 

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah, it is absolutely evident that the guiding principle in Islam is that every person would receive the reward only for what he himself strives for and the Book of Records of the deceased ceases to record anything except three things:

  1. a continuous act of charity which the deceased did in his lifetime from which people are being benefited even after his death.
  2. beneficial knowledge which the deceased taught someone during his lifetime.
  3. and the supplications of forgiveness and mercy which the deceased’s righteous off-spring and loved ones make for him.

 

Your Question: i read your answer that quran-khani for the deceased is not permissible. we pray sura yasin, fatiha and ikhlas and send the sawab to our deceased parents. we feed the poor as a sadaqa for the magfirat of our parents. is that not allowed?

Dear and beloved Sister in Islam, it is the solemn belief of every true believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day, that there was, is, or never will be anyone in the annuls of creation who loved Allah, knew and understood the Commands of Allah, knew and understood what exactly is pleasing and acceptable to Allah, or worshipped Allah Subhanah more or better than the Noble Last and Final Messenger of Allah, Mohamed ar-Rasool Allah (saws)!

 

Thus it is absolutely imperative that for any act to be considered a part of the perfect deen of Islam or any deed to be acceptable to Allah Subhanah, it has to be endorsed by Allah Subhanah in His Quran or through the practice and authentic traditions of the Messenger of Allah (saws).

 

Thus if anyone dares to comes up with any act of worship like celebration, commemoration, or prescribes importance to any prayer, or fast, or night or day, or invents, innovates, or adds anything in the deen of Islam which is not endorsed by the Noble Prophet (saws), then it implies one of three things:

  1. that the person who claims that worship is due on this specific night in this specific way loves and worships Allah more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
  2. or, that the person knows more than the Noble Prophet (saws)!!!
  3. or, that the person has received revelations from Allah Subhanah after the death of the Prophet Mohamed (saws)!!!

 

Allah is our witness brother, if anyone in the annuls of creation ever claims to have any of the above three qualities is nothing more than a confirmed and manifest liar!; for Allah is our witness, no man in the annuls of creation loved or worshipped their Lord more than Prophet Mohamed (saws), no man in the annuls of creation had more knowledge of the Truth than the Noble Prophet Mohamed (saws), and Allah is our witness, the Last and Final Revelations of The Lord Most Majestic were revealed on Prophet Mohamed (saws), and there is none who will or can receive revelations after him (saws)!

 

If one brings, invents, adds or innovates any act or deed in religion which has not been specifically endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws), then it has to be a ‘bida’ (innovation in the religion after the deen was completed on Prophet Mohamed (saws)), and Allah is our witness, every innovation in the deen of Islam is an error in the Sight of Allah Subhanah!

 

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations (bida), and every innovation (bida) is an error.”

 

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (bida in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation (bida) or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (bida), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people!”

 

Your Question: i read your answer that quran-khani for the deceased is not permissible. we pray sura yasin, fatiha and ikhlas and send the sawab to our deceased parents. we feed the poor as a sadaqa for the magfirat of our parents. is that not allowed?

The Messenger of Allah (saws) lived a lifetime amongst his people, and many amongst his (saw’s) closest family and loved ones died during his (saw’s) life; but there is absolutely no evidence in his (saw’s) authentic traditions the Messenger of Allah (saws) ever invited the believers to perform a ‘quran-khani’ for the deceased, nor did he (saws) recite Surah Yaa-Seen on the deceased, nor Surah Fatihah, nor Surah Ikhlaas, etc., nor is there any evidence that he (saws) gave sadaqah or feed the poor with the specific intention to transfer the ‘sawaab’ of these acts to the account of the deceased!!!

 

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) did not perform nor endorse these acts or rituals to be performed for the deceased, who amongst mankind can dare to claim or know that such acts are a part of the deen of Islam, or that such acts and rituals benefit the deceased in any way whatsoever!

 

Beloved Sister, for any act or rite or ritual to be considered a part of the deen, it is absolutely imperative that it be endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws)….if any act, or rite, or ritual is not endorsed by Allah and His Messenger (saws) then it should be absolutely clear that the act, or rite or ritual is not a part of the deen of Islam, but an innovation which people have invented themselves without any authority….and each and every innovation in the deen of Islam is a grave error and a sin.

 

Your Question: what did the prophet pray when he visited the grave?

Ibn Abbas reported: "Once the Prophet (saws) passed by graves in Madinah. He (saws) tumed his face toward them saying: 'Peace be upon you, O dwellers of these graves. May Allah forgive us and you. You have preceded us, and we are following your trail'."

Related by Tirmidhi.

 

Aishah reported: "I asked: 'What should I say when I pass by a graveyard, O Messenger of Allah (saws)?' He (saws) replied, 'Say, "Peace be upon the believing men and women dwelling here. May Allah grant mercy to those who have preceded us and those who are to follow them. Certainly, Allah willing, we will join you"'.

Related by Muslim.

 

Your Question: how can a living person, a son, pray for the reducing of the torment of the grave of his parents.

One of the best things a righteous son (or loved ones) can and must do is to remain constant in supplicating their Merciful Lord for their deceased parents and fore-parents who were believers, and implore Allah Subhanah constantly to forgive them their sins and short-comings, have Mercy upon them, and raise their status and rewards in the Hereafter; it is expected that the Merciful Lord will accept their good supplications for them.

 

Your Question: is reciting of the quran a sawab?

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2137 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone recites a letter from Allah's Book he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a tenfold reward. I do not say that ‘Alif-Lam-Mim’ are one letter, but ‘Alif’ is a letter, ‘Lam’ is a letter and ‘Mim’ is a letter."

 

Allah Subhanah, in His Unending and Infinite Mercy, revealed the Glorious Quran as a guidance for all mankind; and without an iota of a doubt, the recitation, understanding, obedience and implementation of this Glorious Message would rank amongst the best deeds of a believer. But this reward is for the person who does the good deed himself, and he does not have the power or right to transfer the reward of his deeds to whom he wills.

 

Your Question: can he part the reward of some of his good deeds to them (his deceased parents).

Sahih Muslim Hadith 6466 Narrated by Jarir ibn Abdullah (part)

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: ‘He who introduced some good practice in Islam, which was followed after him (by people), will be assured of a reward like those who followed it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And he who introduced some evil practice in Islam, which was followed subsequently (by others), he will be required to bear the burden like that of those who followed this (evil practice), without theirs being diminished in any respect.

 

Dear and beloved sister in Islam, the truth of the matter is whatever good one does, provided one’s parents were believers and made efforts in their lifetime to make their children good muslims, they shall have a share of the reward of every good deed their off-spring do, without any diminish whatsoever in the reward of the one who does the good deeds. Thus whatever good and righteous deeds an off-spring does, provided their parents were believers and exhorted their children towards the Truth, they will have a reward in it, whether the off-spring wishes a reward for them or not. Such is the Merciful Accounting and Grace of the Lord Most Merciful.

 

Your Question: why is it permissible to do haj for the parents (badla haj).

There are three types or conditions of one’s rites of worship:

  1. One that involves only physical qualities or exertion (like prayer, fasts, recitation of Quran, etc.)
  2. One that involves only financial qualities (like giving zakah, charity, etc.)
  3. One that involves both physical and financial qualities (like performing Hajj or Umrah, etc.)

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.418 Narrated by Ibn Abbas

A woman came to the Prophet (saws) and said, "My mother vowed to perform the Hajj but she died before performing it. Should I perform the Hajj on her behalf?" He (saws) said, "Yes! Perform the Hajj on her behalf. See, if your mother had been in debt, would you have paid her debt?" She said, "Yes." He (saws) said, "So you should pay what is for Him, as Allah has more right that one should fulfill one's obligations to Him."

 

If one’s parents or a loved one intended to perform their obligatory Hajj pilgrimage but met with their appointment of death before they fulfilled their intention, the Messenger of Allah (saws) permitted their off-spring to fulfill this their parent’s debt to Allah Subhanah.

 

But never did he (saws) ever allow or encourage or endorse the off-spring or anyone else to offer the missed prayers of their deceased loved ones, or missed fasts of the dead, or the recitation of the Glorious Quran which the deceased could and should have done himself on a constant basis when they were alive.

 

Your Question: can a person pay back the loan of a deceased?

Because the paying back of the loan concerns the ‘huquq-ul-ibaad’ or rights that are due from one human being to another, the Messenger of Allah (saws) time and time again endorsed and encouraged the surviving heirs and the believers to repay the debts of the deceased.

 

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

 

Burhan

 


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