Deeds That Benefit the Deceased
(Written by: Janab Maulana Manzoor Ahmad Jamali)
Dear readers! There are certain deeds for which a believer continues to receive reward even after his death. Here we mention some deeds that are beneficial even after death. Janab Abdullah bin Abi Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I heard Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) saying that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
يتبع الميت ثلاثة، فيرجع اثنان ويبقى واحد يتبعه اهله وماله وعمله، فيرجع اهله وماله ويبقى عمله .
“Three things follow the deceased. Two of them return and one remains with him. His family, his wealth and his deeds follow him. His family and wealth return, and his deeds remain with him.”
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة، إلا من صدقة جارية، او علم ينتفع به، او ولد صالح يدعو له .
“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end, except for three (which do not end): ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah), or knowledge from which benefit is gained, or a righteous son who prays for him.”
The prayers and seeking of forgiveness by a righteous child, fulfilling the covenants of the parents after their death, honouring their friends, and keeping up the ties of kinship that are linked only through them are also means of salvation for them. As Sayyiduna Abu Usaid Malik bin Rabi’ah (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
بينما نحن عند النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم إذ جاءه رجل من بني سليم , فقال: يا رسول الله , ابقي من بر ابوي شيء ابرهما به من بعد موتهما , قال: ” نعم , الصلاة عليهما , والاستغفار لهما , وإيفاء بعهودهما من بعد موتهما , وإكرام صديقهما , وصلة الرحم التى لا توصل إلا بهما”.
“We were present with the Prophet ﷺ when a man from the tribe of Banu Sulaym came and said: O Messenger of Allah! Is there any good deed of my parents remaining that I can do for them after their death?
The Prophet ﷺ said: Yes, praying for them and seeking forgiveness for them, fulfilling their promises after their death, honouring their friends, and keeping the ties of kinship that are connected only through them.”
Similarly, through the blessings of the prayers of a righteous child, Allah raises the ranks of the parents. As Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) says, the Prophet ﷺ said:
إن الرجل لترفع درجته فى الجنة , فيقول: انى هذا , فيقال: باستغفار ولدك لك”.
“A person’s rank will be raised in Paradise, and he will say: How has this come about for me? It will be said: Due to your child’s prayer and seeking of forgiveness for you.”
Giving charity in the name of the deceased, digging a well or a pond, and installing a water pump from which people are given drink are the best charity and a cause of reward. Sayyiduna Sa’d bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) says that he said: O Messenger of Allah!
إن امي ماتت افاتصدق عنها، قال: ” نعم”، قلت: فاي الصدقة افضل؟ ، قال: ” سقي الماء”.
“My mother has died. Can I give charity on her behalf? He ﷺ said: Yes. I asked: Which charity is best? He ﷺ said: Giving water to drink (to the thirsty).”
Similarly, it is narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that:
ان رجلا قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن امي افتلتت نفسها، واظنها لو تكلمت تصدقت، فهل لها اجر إن تصدقت عنها؟ , قال: نعم”.
“A man asked the Prophet ﷺ: My mother died suddenly, and I think that if she had been given the chance to speak she would have given something in charity. If I give charity on her behalf, will she receive its reward? The Prophet ﷺ said: Yes, she will receive it.”
In another narration, Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says that:
ان رجلا، قال: يا رسول الله، إن ” امي توفيت افينفعها إن تصدقت عنها؟ قال: نعم، قال: فإن لي مخرفا فاشهدك اني قد تصدقت به عنها “.
“A man said: O Messenger of Allah! My mother has passed away. If I give charity on her behalf, will it benefit her? He ﷺ said: Yes. He said: I have an orchard. Be my witness that I have given it in charity on behalf of my mother.”
Similarly, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him):
ان رجلا قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن ابي مات وترك مالا ولم يوص فهل يكفر عنه ان اتصدق عنه؟ , قال: نعم”.
“A man said to the Prophet ﷺ: My father has died and has left wealth but did not make a will. Can my giving charity on his behalf serve as expiation for his sins? The Prophet ﷺ said: Yes.”
Similarly, if children perform Hajj on behalf of their parents, or fast the obligatory fasts that were due upon them, or fulfil a vow, and the heirs discharge these, then they are fulfilled on their behalf and benefit the deceased. As Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) says:
ان امراة سالت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عن ابيها مات ولم يحج، قال: ” حجي عن ابيك”.
“A woman asked the Prophet ﷺ about her father, who had died and had not performed Hajj. The Prophet ﷺ said: Perform Hajj on behalf of your father.”
Similarly, if a person owes fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf.
As Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من مات وعليه صيام، صام عنه وليه
“If a person dies and owes fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf.”
Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said:
ان سعد بن عبادة رضى الله عنه استفتى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: إن امي ماتت وعليها نذر، فقال: ” اقضه عنها”.
“Sa’d bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ a question. He said that his mother had died and she had a vow outstanding. The Prophet ﷺ said: Fulfil the vow on her behalf.”
Clarification:
Whoever vowed to obey and carry out the commands of Allah Ta’ala, his vow should be fulfilled; and whoever vowed to commit disobedience and sin against Allah Ta’ala, he should not fulfil that vow.
Whoever guards and keeps watch over the frontier, his deeds will keep increasing until the Day of Resurrection. As Sayyidina Fadala bin Ubayd (may Allah be pleased with him) says, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
كل الميت يختم على عمله إلا المرابط فإنه ينمو له عمله إلى يوم القيامة ويؤمن من فتان القبر”.
“Every dead person’s deeds are sealed after death, except the one who guards the frontier; his deeds will keep increasing for him until the Day of Resurrection, and he will be protected from the trial of the grave.”
Sincerely making supplication for the deceased is also a means of forgiveness. As Allah Ta’ala says:
وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“And (for) those who came after them, who say: O our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancour towards those who believe. O our Lord, indeed You are Compassionate and Merciful.”
Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
إذا صليتم على الميت، فاخلصوا له الدعاء”.
“When you pray the funeral prayer over the deceased, make sincere supplication for him.”
Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ led the funeral prayer for someone, he would pray with sincerity. As Sayyidina Awf bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم صلى على جنازة يقول: ” اللهم اغفر له وارحمه واعف عنه , وعافه واكرم نزله , ووسع مدخله واغسله بماء وثلج وبرد , ونقه من الخطايا كما ينقى الثوب الابيض من الدنس وابدله دارا خيرا من داره واهلا خيرا من اهله وزوجا خيرا من زوجه , وقه عذاب القبر وعذاب النار” , قال عوف: فتمنيت ان لو كنت الميت لدعاء رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم لذلك الميت.
“I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying in a funeral prayer for a deceased person:
اللهم اغفر له وارحمه، وعافه واعف عنه، واكرم نزله ووسع مدخله، واغسله بالماء والثلج والبرد، ونقه من الخطايا كما نقيت الثوب الابيض من الدنس، وابدله دارا خيرا من داره، واهلا خيرا من اهله، وزوجا خيرا من زوجه، وادخله الجنة واعذه من عذاب القبر، او من عذاب النار
‘O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him, pardon him and grant him well-being, honour his lodging and widen his entrance, wash him with water, snow and hail, cleanse him of sins as a white garment is cleansed of filth, replace for him a home better than his home, a family better than his family, and a spouse better than his spouse, admit him into Paradise and protect him from the punishment of the grave or the punishment of the Fire.’
Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I wished that I were the deceased, because of the supplication of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for that deceased person.”
If a group of Muslims pray the funeral prayer over any deceased person, numbering up to one hundred, and they intercede for the deceased, then their intercession is accepted with Allah Ta’ala. As Sayyida Umm al-Mu’mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says that the Prophet ﷺ said:
ما من ميت يصلي عليه امة من المسلمين يبلغون ان يكونوا مائة يشفعون إلا شفعوا فيه” , قال سلام: فحدثت به شعيب بن الحبحاب , فقال: حدثني به انس بن مالك، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم.
“If a group of Muslims pray the funeral prayer over any deceased person, numbering up to one hundred, and they intercede (with Allah), their intercession on his behalf will be accepted. Salam says: I narrated this hadith to Shu’ayb bin al-Hubhab, and he said: It was narrated to me by Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), who was narrating it from the Prophet ﷺ.”
When the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) finished burying the deceased during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say: Ask forgiveness for your brother. As Sayyidina Uthman bin Affan (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
كان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم” إذا فرغ من دفن الميت، وقف عليه، فقال: استغفروا لاخيكم، وسلوا له بالتثبيت، فإنه الآن يسال”، قال ابو داود: بحير ابن ريسان.
“When the Prophet ﷺ finished burying the deceased, he would stop there for a while and say: Ask forgiveness for your brother, and pray that he remain steadfast, for he is now being questioned.”
When a believer among the believers prays the funeral prayer over a deceased person and praises him, this too is a means of salvation. As Sayyidina Rabi’ bin Mu’awwidh (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:
اذا صلوا على جنازة اوثنوا خيرا يقول الرب عزوجل اجزت سهادتهم فيما يعلمون اوغفر له مالا يعلمون
“When people pray the funeral prayer over a deceased person and praise him, Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says: Their testimony regarding what they know is sufficient, and what they do not know, I forgive him.”
Similarly, Sayyidina Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
مر على النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم بجنازة فاثنوا عليها خيرا، فقال: وجبت، ثم مر باخرى فاثنوا عليها شرا او قال غير ذلك، فقال: وجبت، فقيل: يا رسول الله، قلت لهذا وجبت ولهذا وجبت، قال: ” شهادة القوم المؤمنون شهداء الله فى الارض”.
“A funeral passed by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the people praised the deceased, and the Prophet ﷺ said: It is obligatory. Then another funeral passed and the people spoke ill of it, or said other words to the same effect (the narrator is uncertain), and the Prophet ﷺ also said: It is obligatory. It was said: O Messenger of Allah, you said ‘it is obligatory’ about this one and about the first one too. He ﷺ said: The testimony of a believing community is (accepted before Allah); they are the witnesses of Allah on earth.”
The reward for calling people to the Qur’an, the Hadith, all goodness, and following the Sunnah, and spreading it, is such that the one who does so receives the reward of that action, and in addition will be given a reward equal to the rewards of those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection. As Sayyidina Jarir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
” من سن سنة خير فاتبع عليها فله اجره ومثل اجور من اتبعه غير منقوص من اجورهم شيئا، ومن سن سنة شر فاتبع عليها كان عليه وزره ومثل اوزار من اتبعه، غير منقوص من اوزارهم شيئا “
“Whoever establishes a good way (establishes a good Sunnah) and it is followed, he will receive the reward of his own action, and (also) a reward equal to the rewards of those who follow it, without any reduction in their rewards. Whoever establishes an evil way and it is followed, he will bear the burden (sin) of his own action, and (also) a sin equal to the sins of those who follow it, without any reduction in their sins.”
If a person plants a shade-giving tree or sows a crop before his death, and people and animals or birds eat from it, then this is a source of reward for him. As Sayyidina Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
” ما من مسلم يغرس غرسا , او يزرع زرعا , فياكل منه إنسان , او طير , او بهيمة , إلا كانت له صدقة “.
“Whenever a Muslim plants a tree or sows a crop, and a person, a bird or an animal eats from it, it is a charity for him.”
صلى الله على حبيبه و على آله وسلم
