Ibn Majah

Commentary:

➊ Some researchers have classified this narration as hasan (good). For details, see: (Al-Ta‘alluq al-Raghib: 1/58, 57) and (Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 6/29).

➋ In this hadith, a few deeds are mentioned by way of example which continue to be a means of forgiveness of sins and elevation of ranks even after a person’s death, as if his actions are still ongoing.

➌ All the deeds mentioned in the hadith are those which the deceased himself performed during his lifetime; reciting the Qur’an or performing prayer on behalf of the deceased by someone else is not included in this.

➍ The best charity (sadaqah) is that which a person gives during his lifetime while in a state of health. The same applies to other expenditures made in the way of Allah. When a person becomes severely ill and feels that the end is near, giving charity or making a bequest at that time does not hold the same status. In the hadith, it is mentioned that it was asked of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam: Which charity is best? He replied: The charity you give while you are healthy, desiring wealth, fearing poverty, and hoping for affluence, and do not delay until the soul reaches the throat, then you say, “Give so much to so-and-so and so much to so-and-so.” By then, that wealth has already become theirs. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Zakat, Chapter: The Virtue of the Charity of the Healthy Miser, Hadith: 1419)

Authentication of the Hadith:
Its chain of narration is weak.
◄ It was narrated by Imam Ibn Khuzaymah [4؍121 ح2490], meaning he considered it authentic, but regarding Marzuq ibn Abi al-Hudhayl al-Thaqafi al-Dimashqi, the hadith scholars have differed.
◄ Dahim, Abu Hatim al-Razi, and Ibn Khuzaymah have declared him trustworthy, and Hafiz Mundhiri has graded this hadith as hasan (good), whereas Bukhari, Ibn Hibban, ‘Uqayli, Ibn ‘Adi, Ibn al-Jawzi, and Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani and others have criticized him. Therefore, according to the majority, due to being considered weak, he is a weak narrator of hadith.
◄ Hafiz Dhahabi mentioned the aforementioned Marzuq in his book [ديوان الضعفاء والمتروكين 2؍352 ت4075] and quoted from Ibn Hibban that «ينفرد عن الزهري بالمناكير» he is unique in narrating munkar (denounced) reports from al-Zuhri.
◄ The aforementioned narration is also from the chain of «مرزوق : حدثنا الزهري», while on the other hand, Imam Dahim considered Marzuq to be authentic in narrating from al-Zuhri, but due to the preference given to the majority, the criticism is considered weightier.