Charitable giving for a deceased

[glo]

A young lad in our community was tragically stabbed to death.
His friends are raising money for charity to build a well in Pakistan.

In explanation, this is what was written:

Muslims believe that anything left, built or donated in the name of the deceased will truly benefit them for as long people are benefiting from what ever the end result of the cause is.

All this will help our dear brother Adil in achieving maximum rank in Jannah (Heaven) not to mention keeping his name alive.

The concept of giving to charity as a way of helping the deceased reach a higher status is Jannah is new to me.

Can somebody tell me a little bit more about this?

In particular I always thought that in Islam a person is judged on their own merit - i.e. the deed THEY did. So I am unclear about the concept of helping a deceased by doing Good deeds in their name (if that makes sense)

I look forward to your replies. Thank you.

[Perseveranze]

Asalaamu Alaikum,

First time I've heard of this too. You only give to Charity in God's name, to please Allah(swt) which in return would give you peace at heart, that's what I'm aware of atleast.

[AabiruSabeel]

Yes, it is possible to give charity on behalf of the dead to relieve them of their sins and to increase their ranks.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased). [Muslim]


A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a man said to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him): My mother died all of a sudden, and I think if she (could have the opportunity) to speak she would have (made a will) regarding Sadaqa'. Will I be entitled to reward if I give charity on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. [Muslim]

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person said to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him): My father died and left behind property without making any will regarding it. Would he be relieved of the burden of his sins if I give sadaqa on his behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. [Muslim]

[aadil77]

Yes, it is possible to give charity on behalf of the dead to relieve them of their sins and to increase their ranks.

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased). [Muslim]


A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that a man said to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him): My mother died all of a sudden, and I think if she (could have the opportunity) to speak she would have (made a will) regarding Sadaqa'. Will I be entitled to reward if I give charity on her behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. [Muslim]

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person said to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him): My father died and left behind property without making any will regarding it. Would he be relieved of the burden of his sins if I give sadaqa on his behalf? He (the Holy Prophet) said: Yes. [Muslim]

What I understand from these hadiths are that only a deceased persons wealth left behind can benefit him if it is given to charity? not other peoples wealth given in their name?

[AabiruSabeel]

What I understand from these hadiths are that only a deceased persons wealth left behind can benefit him if it is given to charity? not other peoples wealth given in their name?

Brother, there are other Ahadith as well that mention charity and other acts from our own selves, not from the wealth of the deceased.

1. Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) slaughtered sheep during his farewell Hajj and made intention for himself and all those (alive, deceased and to come) who bring faith on his prophethood. (Sahih Bukhari)

2. Imaam Bukhari has reported on the authority of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbaas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) that Sayyiduna Sa’ad ibn Ubaadah (Radhiallaahu Anhu) was away when his mother passed away. When he returned, he asked Rasulullah, ‘Will it be of any benefit if I give charity on her behalf?’ Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) replied in the affirmative. (Sahih Bukhari Hadith2762)

Hafiz ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani (RA) states in his monumental commentary of Sahih Bukhari entitled, ‘Fath al-Bari’, ‘This Hadith proves the permissibility of charity on behalf of the deceased and that the reward will reach him.’ (Fath al-Baari vol.5 pg.477 Hadith2761)

3. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbaas (Radhiallaahu Anhu) reports a man once asked Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), ‘O Prophet of Allah! My father has passed away and he did not perform Hajj, can I perform Hajj on his behalf?’ Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) enquired of him, ‘If your father had any debt, would you have paid it.?’ The man replied, ‘Yes.’ Upon this, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, ‘In that case, the Deen of Allah has more right.’ (Sunan Nasaaie Hadith26331)

4. A separate incident of a similar nature has been recorded by Imaam Bukhari in his Sahih (Hadith6698). Hafiz ibn Qayyim (RA), the famous student of Hafiz ibn Taymiyah (RA), after quoting the above Ahaadith, states: ‘These quotations all concur with the fact that when the living carry out any deed on behalf of the deceased, the reward will reach him (benefit him).’ (Kitaab Ruh pg.161)

5. Sayyiduna al-Lajlaaj (Radhiallaahu Anhu), a companion of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), had bequested his son that after he leaves this world, he should recite the beginning and end of Surah al-Baqarah at the head side of his grave. Sayyiduna al-Lajlaaj (Radhiallaahu Anhu) then mentioned that he heard this from Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). (al-Mu’jamul Kabeer of Imaam Tabrani; Hafiz Haythami has regarded the narrators of this tradition as reliable – refer Majmauz-zawaaid vol.3 pg.44)

6. Such has also been recorded to be the practice of Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu). (Sunan al-Kubra of Imaam Bayhaqi vol.4 pg.56). This narration has been classified as Hasan (sound) by Imaam Nawawiy and Hafiz ibn Hajar (RA). (al-Azkaar pg.212 Hadith493; al-Futuhaat al-Rabbaaniyya vol.3 pg.194)

Hafiz ibn Hajar (RA) has mentioned in a reply to a query of whether the reward of recitation of the Qur’aan reaches the deceased, that; it is Mustahabb (meritorious) for one to do this form of (Isaal-e-Sawaab) abundantly. (refer Tawdehul Bayaan li wusooli thawaabil Qur’aan of Shaykh Abdullah Siddique al-Ghumariy pg.2) Besides these there are numerous other narrations of this nature.

It thus becomes abundantly clear through the abovementioned Ahaadith that Isaal-e-Sawaab is totally permissible in all it’s forms and is in fact a very virtuous deed. This is the view of the overwhelming majority of the classical scholars (Muhadditheen and Fuqahaa) of Islam. (refer Kitaab al-Rooh of ibn Qayyim pg.153; Fathul Baari vol.5 pg.477 Hadith2761; Sharhus-Sudoor of Allamah Suyuti pgs.402, 403 Dar ibn Kathir; al-Hidaaya vol.1 pg.296-297; Fathul Qadeer vol.3 pg.65-66; Shaami vol.2 pg.243 – HM Saeed)


Source: http://askimam.org/fatwa/fatwa.php?a...021e4ee9f0f5bd

[glo]

Speaking about the case I mentioned in the OP, it is very clear that people hope and believe that anything done and any money donated in Adil's name will benefit him in the next life.
He was only 16 and still in school, so I don't expect that he had much money of his own.

Here is what people have written on his Just Giving page

"May Allah swt reward Adil for all these great causes and grant him the highest place in Jannah. "

"A great initiative which will inshallah benefit Adil in the hereafter, while aiding those in need in this world."