Hadith 3680

أَنْبَأَنَا الْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ ، عَنْ ابْنِ الْقَاسِمِ ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُرَحْبِيلَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ سَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ ، قَالَ : " خَرَجَ سَعْدُ بْنُ عُبَادَةَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي بَعْضِ مَغَازِيهِ ، وَحَضَرَتْ أُمَّهُ الْوَفَاةُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ ، فَقِيلَ لَهَا : أَوْصِي ، فَقَالَتْ : فِيمَ أُوصِي ؟ الْمَالُ مَالُ سَعْدٍ ، فَتُوُفِّيَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَقْدَمَ سَعْدٌ ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ سَعْدٌ ذُكِرَ ذَلِكَ لَهُ ، فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، " هَلْ يَنْفَعُهَا أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ عَنْهَا ؟ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : نَعَمْ " , فَقَالَ سَعْدٌ : حَائِطُ كَذَا وَكَذَا صَدَقَةٌ عَنْهَا لِحَائِطٍ سَمَّاهُ " .
´It was narrated from Sa'eed bin 'Amr bin Shurahbil bin Sa'eed bin Sa'd bin 'Ubadah, from his father, that his grandfather said:` "Sa'd bin 'Ubadah went out with the Prophet on one of his campaigns, and death came to his mother in Al-Madinah. It was said to her (as she was dying): 'Make a will.' She said: 'To whom shall I make a will? The wealth belongs to Sa'd.' Then she died before Sa'd came. When Sa'd came, he was told about that and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, will it benefit her if I give in charity on her behalf?' The Prophet said: 'Yes.' Sa'd said: 'Such and such a garden is given in charity on her behalf' -regarding a garden that he named."
Hadith Reference سنن نسائي / كتاب الوصايا / 3680
Hadith Grading الألبانی: حسن صحيح  |  زبیر علی زئی: إسناده صحيح
Hadith Takhrij «تفرد بہ النسائي (تحفة الأشراف: 3838، 4471)، موطا امام مالک/الأقضیة 41 (52)، مسند احمد (6/7) (حسن صحیح)»
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
(1) In the previous narration, it was mentioned that “her soul departed suddenly.” This does not mean that she was given absolutely no opportunity to speak. It means that she did not remain ill for a long time, but rather passed away after a short period; otherwise, she did engage in some conversation. Or it is possible that near the time of death, her tongue became unable to speak and she could not converse, as is understood from some ahadith. And this conversation may have taken place earlier.

(2) “Yes”—it is understood that financial charity (sadaqah) can be given on behalf of the deceased, and the deceased will benefit from it.

(3) There is consensus regarding financial charity that it can be given on behalf of the deceased. However, there is a difference of opinion regarding bodily acts of worship, such as recitation of the Qur’an, prayer (salah), etc. The preferred opinion is that these cannot be performed on behalf of the deceased, nor is it permissible to perform them with the intention of transferring reward (isal al-thawab); however, regarding fasting (sawm), the statement of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is: [مَن ماتَ وعليه صيامٌ صامَ عنه وَليُّه] “Whoever dies and had obligatory fasts due, his guardian should fast on his behalf.” Similarly, if the deceased left behind an estate and had an obligation of Hajj or a vow (nadhar), then his heirs should fulfill it on his behalf. Otherwise, the reward of every good deed—whether bodily or financial—performed by the children continues to reach the parents, whether they intend it or not, because children are a continuous charity (sadaqah jariyah) for their parents. And Allah knows best. (For details, see: Hadith: 3696)
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 3680