What follows the deceased after his death

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "My mother died suddenly, and had she been able to speak she would have given charity. If I now give charity on her behalf, will she receive reward?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes."

Amr bin Shu'ayb narrates from his father, from his grandfather, that he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Al-As bin Wa'il had ordered in the days of Jahiliyyah that one hundred camels be slaughtered, and Hisham bin al-As slaughtered fifty camels as his share of that. Shall I slaughter on his behalf?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If your father had affirmed the Oneness of Allah (tawhid), then your fasting on his behalf, giving charity on his behalf and freeing a slave on his behalf would bring him reward."

Sa'id bin Abi Sa'id said: If even a little meat is given in charity on behalf of the deceased, its reward certainly reaches him.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about a vow his mother owed, as she had died before fulfilling it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Fulfil it on her behalf."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "A man is raised by a degree (in Paradise), and he asks: 'How did this happen?' It is said to him: 'This is because of the forgiveness your son sought for you after you.'"

Sa'id bin al-Musayyib said: A man is indeed raised in rank (in Paradise) because of the supplication his son makes for him after his death.

It is narrated from Ata and Zayd bin Aslam that a man came to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! My father has passed away; shall I free a slave on his behalf?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes."

(Through another chain) Zayd bin Aslam (and Ata) both said: A man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, shall I free a slave on behalf of my father, when he has died?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes."

It is narrated from Hajjaj bin Dinar that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, righteousness after righteousness is that you pray for your parents along with your own prayer, fast on their behalf along with your own fasting, and give charity on their behalf along with your own charity."

Ata said: Four things may be done on behalf of the deceased: freeing a slave, giving charity, performing Hajj and performing Umrah.

Ata said: After a person dies, the reward of freeing a slave, performing Hajj and giving charity on his behalf reaches him.

Ibn Buraydah narrates from his father (Sayyiduna Buraydah, may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: I was sitting with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) when a woman came and said: "My mother owed two months of fasting; will it suffice if I fast on her behalf?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes." She said: "My mother never performed Hajj; will it suffice (is it permissible) if I perform Hajj on her behalf?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Yes."

Abu Ja'far said: Sayyiduna al-Hasan and Sayyiduna al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to free slaves on behalf of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) after his death.