Six Sharia-Approved Ways to Pray for the Deceased and Convey Rewards
Hadith of Umm al-Mu’minin ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها):
She narrated that one night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out to al-Baqiʿ cemetery, stood there for a long time, then raised his hands and prayed three times.
Jibril (عليه السلام) had come to him with the command from Allah ﷻ to visit the graves of the believers and pray for their forgiveness.
When she asked how to pray for them, the Prophet ﷺ taught her:
"اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَی أَہْلِ الدِّیَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمِیْنَ... أَسْأَلُ اللّٰہَ لَنَا وَلَکُمُ الْعَافِیَۃ"
(Muslim 974, 975)
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, or a righteous child who prays for him."
(Muslim 1631)
Ibn ʿAbbas (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah (رضي الله عنه) asked about fulfilling his deceased mother’s vow, and the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fulfill your mother’s vow."
(Bukhari 2761, Muslim 1638)
ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever dies with fasts due upon him, his heir should fast on his behalf."
(Bukhari 1952, Muslim 1147)
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
A man asked if giving charity on behalf of his deceased father would benefit him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Yes."
(Muslim 1630)
ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah (رضي الله عنه) said his mother would have given charity if she had spoken before dying; he asked if it would benefit her.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Yes."
(Bukhari 1388, Muslim 1004)
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"A believer’s soul is held back by his debt until it is paid off."
(Tirmidhi 1078)
1 — Raising Hands While Praying for the Deceased at Graves
Hadith of Umm al-Mu’minin ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها):
She narrated that one night the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went out to al-Baqiʿ cemetery, stood there for a long time, then raised his hands and prayed three times.
Jibril (عليه السلام) had come to him with the command from Allah ﷻ to visit the graves of the believers and pray for their forgiveness.
When she asked how to pray for them, the Prophet ﷺ taught her:
"اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَی أَہْلِ الدِّیَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ وَالْمُسْلِمِیْنَ... أَسْأَلُ اللّٰہَ لَنَا وَلَکُمُ الْعَافِیَۃ"
(Muslim 974, 975)
2 — Continuous Rewards (Ṣadaqah Jariyah, Beneficial Knowledge, and Righteous Offspring)
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, or a righteous child who prays for him."
(Muslim 1631)
3 — Other Acts Whose Rewards Reach the Deceased
a) Fulfilling the Vows of the Deceased
Ibn ʿAbbas (رضي الله عنهما) reported:
Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah (رضي الله عنه) asked about fulfilling his deceased mother’s vow, and the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Fulfill your mother’s vow."
(Bukhari 2761, Muslim 1638)
b) Making up Missed Fasts
ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها) reported:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whoever dies with fasts due upon him, his heir should fast on his behalf."
(Bukhari 1952, Muslim 1147)
c) Giving Charity on Behalf of the Deceased
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
A man asked if giving charity on behalf of his deceased father would benefit him.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Yes."
(Muslim 1630)
ʿAishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
Saʿd ibn ʿUbādah (رضي الله عنه) said his mother would have given charity if she had spoken before dying; he asked if it would benefit her.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Yes."
(Bukhari 1388, Muslim 1004)
d) Paying Off the Deceased’s Debts
Abu Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"A believer’s soul is held back by his debt until it is paid off."
(Tirmidhi 1078)
4 — Key Points on Isal al-Thawab
- Acts proven in authentic Sunnah benefit the deceased.
- Raising hands for dua at graves is established.
- Financial and physical acts (charity, fulfilling vows, fasting, paying debts) reach the deceased.
- Innovation in methods of Isal al-Thawab should be avoided.
