In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the All-Merciful…
QUESTION: Is charity given on behalf of the deceased something that benefits the deceased?
ANSWER: Yes, the deceased will benefit from the charity given by the living on his behalf, according to the consensus of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah.
This is based on the hadeeth collected by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim from the narration of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her), who said that a man came to the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) and said, “O Messenger of Allaah! My mother’s soul was taken (suddenly), and she had not bequested anything (as charity to be given from her wealth). I believe that she would have done so if she had spoken (before her death). Would she get any reward if I gave charity on her behalf?”
He replied, “Yes.”
Also, due to the hadeeth collected by al-Bukhaaree from the narration of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father), that Sa’d ibn ‘Ubaadah’s (may Allaah be pleased with him) mother died in his absence. He later went to the Prophet (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) and said, “O Messenger of Allaah! My mother has died while I was absent, so would she benefit if I gave charity on her behalf?”
He replied, “Yes.”
He (Sa’d) said, “Then I take you as a witness that I give away my garden, al-Mikhraaf (the name of the garden), as charity on her behalf.”
These are among the authentic evidences about the deceased benefitting from giving charity on their behalf.
And through Allaah (alone) is success. May Allaah raise the rank of our Prophet Muhammad and that of his family and companions, and grant them all peace.
Signed by:
- [Shaykh] ‘Abdullaah ibn Qu’ood, Member
- [Shaykh] ‘Abdur-Razzaaq ‘Afeefee, Vice-Chairman
- [Shaykh] ‘Abdul-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdillaah ibn Baaz, Chairman
(May Allaah have Mercy on them.)
Source: The Permanent Committee’s Collection of Fatwaas (9/27-28)
Translated by: Moosaa Richardson
JazaakAllaahu khayraa.
Please, do you know what the scholars say concerning the reward of such an act (charity / hajj on behalf of the dead)? Are both the dead and the person who carried out the act on his behalf rewarded?
Also, as regards the person carrying out the charity/hajj on behalf of the deceased, must he be a son/daughter or a close relative?
JazaakAllaahu khayraa.
Bismillah
As salaamu alaykum
Is it also permissible to start up sadaqa jaariyah on behalf of a deceased?
Baarak Allahu feek.
In regards to setting up automatic monthly donations:
Is it the case that the first initial intention when setting up an automatic monthly donation would be sufficient for every automated donation sent out in the coming months? Or is the individual required to renew their intention every month prior to the money being automatically dispatched?
Jazak Allaahu kheira
This is similar to a sadaqah jaariyah (ongoing charity). A person sets it up with the intention that it continues to transfer on his behalf, and that is sufficient. He may forget about it totally, and this is good for him. Let us focus on keeping track of our sins and repenting from them, not on our good deeds that we set into motion to be continual, those which do not require our supervision! And Allaah knows best.
As salaamu alaykum
How does a person change their intention to give in a deceased persons behalf ? Is the intention i give this on behalf of so and so
Jazaakum Allahu khair
Asalamu alaykum
I don’t know if this will ever get answers, but I sincerely hope that Allah inspires you to see this comment and give me a answer, if Allah does then Alhamdulilah if he doesnt then Qadrallah.
Question:
In recent times, there has become a trend that when someone dies whether that be due to illness, car crash, etc within hours a Gofund page/collection is created. The family/friends raise money for their deceased with the intent that it will be classified as sadaqah jariyah. Is this practice allowed? will the deceased even receive this sadaqah?
May Allah reward you with sincerity, happiness, good health, and emaan Ameen.
Jazkhallahu khairan
Wa ‘alaykum as-Salaamu wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh. I do not see anything wrong with it, based on the question, but we will try to get the question answered by a scholar, in shaa’ Allah. From what I understand, the concern is about how it might become a standard expectation and then maybe something people view as required?