❖ Question:
In some areas, people recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah over food every Thursday evening and intend to convey its reward to the deceased. The food is then distributed among the poor. What is the Islamic ruling on this practice?
❖ Answer:
This practice is baseless and a bidʿah (innovation). Neither the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, nor his Companions, nor the rightly-guided Imams of the religion ever engaged in such a practice.
Islam is based on acts of worship that are proven from the Prophet ﷺ. Any act of worship or religious practice unfamiliar to the Muslims of the best generations (Khair al-Qurūn) is a rejected innovation.
Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله) [1332–1420 AH] stated:
"From the previous discussion, one understands that the common phrase used today in some regions — 'al-Fātiḥah for the soul of so-and-so' — contradicts the Sunnah. It is undoubtedly an innovation, especially since — according to the most correct opinion — the recitation does not reach the deceased, as will be explained in detail, In shā’ Allāh."
— Aḥkām al-Janāʾiz, p. 33
Conclusion:
Reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah specifically over food on Thursday evenings with the intention of conveying its reward to the deceased is not supported by the Qur’an or Sunnah, and is therefore considered a blameworthy innovation. It should be avoided.
In some areas, people recite Sūrah al-Fātiḥah over food every Thursday evening and intend to convey its reward to the deceased. The food is then distributed among the poor. What is the Islamic ruling on this practice?
❖ Answer:
This practice is baseless and a bidʿah (innovation). Neither the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, nor his Companions, nor the rightly-guided Imams of the religion ever engaged in such a practice.
Islam is based on acts of worship that are proven from the Prophet ﷺ. Any act of worship or religious practice unfamiliar to the Muslims of the best generations (Khair al-Qurūn) is a rejected innovation.
Shaykh Nāṣir al-Dīn al-Albānī (رحمه الله) [1332–1420 AH] stated:
"From the previous discussion, one understands that the common phrase used today in some regions — 'al-Fātiḥah for the soul of so-and-so' — contradicts the Sunnah. It is undoubtedly an innovation, especially since — according to the most correct opinion — the recitation does not reach the deceased, as will be explained in detail, In shā’ Allāh."
— Aḥkām al-Janāʾiz, p. 33
Conclusion:
Reciting Sūrah al-Fātiḥah specifically over food on Thursday evenings with the intention of conveying its reward to the deceased is not supported by the Qur’an or Sunnah, and is therefore considered a blameworthy innovation. It should be avoided.
