The Impact of Charity for the Deceased
Muslim scholars unanimously agree on the effectiveness of charity performed for the deceased, with Imam Al-Nawawi – may Allah have mercy on him – stating, “There is no disagreement regarding charity for the deceased.” In his work, Tuhfat al-Muhtaj, he further mentions that “the deceased benefits from charity given on their behalf.” Examples of such charitable acts include the endowment of Qurans, digging wells, and planting trees, whether these acts were done during the person’s lifetime or by others after their passing. It is not a requirement for the charity to be performed by close relatives or children; rather, it is valid whether it comes from near or distant individuals. This indicates the permissibility of donating on behalf of the deceased or building mosques with the intention of directing the rewards to them. All of this contributes to accruing merit and reward for the deceased.
The Effect of Mourning on the Deceased
Allah – the Almighty – has commanded His servants to exercise patience and accept His decree, prohibiting any actions or words that contradict this principle. Among the prohibited actions is expressing objection to the calamity of death. Some prophetic traditions indicate that the deceased may suffer from mourning and wailing on their behalf. However, scholars have differing interpretations of these hadiths. The majority understand that such suffering applies to those who instructed their families to mourn them, as this would be the cause of their torment. Conversely, if the family mourns without a prior request from the deceased, it is believed that they do not incur punishment. Al-Tabari interpreted these hadiths to suggest that the deceased feels pain from their family’s mourning.
Beneficial Acts for the Deceased
The deceased can benefit from certain acts performed by others on their behalf. These include:
- Prayers and seeking forgiveness for them.
- Giving charity or performing other financial acts of worship, whether by children or anyone else.
- Fasting.
- Pilgrimage (Hajj).
- Reciting the Quran for them, as acknowledged by the majority of scholars from the Sunni tradition. It is important that no monetary reward is sought for this act, as it is prohibited for both the giver and the receiver to accept compensation.