Ruling

on Recitation of the Quraan for Dead Persons Soul

Question 62: Noble Shaykh, what's the ruling of recitation (of the Quraan) for dead persons soul? Answer 62: The recitation (of the Quraan) for dead persons soul, meaning that a reciter reads the Quraan while he wants that its reward is for a dead (person) from the Muslims, the scholars differed in this issue, from amongst them who saw that, that is not legislated, and the dead does not benefit by it, meaning he does not benefit by the Quraan in this manner, and from amongst them who saw he (the dead) benefits by that, and that it is allowed for people to read the Quraan with the intention that it is for a man or a woman from the Muslims, whether he was a relative to him or not a relative to him, and this is the outweighing (opinion) because it is stated in the category of worships (thus) it is permissible to send it to the dead person, as in the hadith of Saad bin Ubaadah radi Allahu anhu, when he gave charity by his garden for his mother41, and as in the story of the man who said to the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam: my mother died suddenly and I thought that if she had lived, she would have given charity, so can I give charity on her behalf? He sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, Yes42.1

So, these are important cases that show that sending of variety of worships to one of the Muslims is permissible, and it is like that. However, better than this is that he supplicates for the dead (person), and he makes the righteous deeds for himself, because the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam said, When a person dies, his action comes to an end except for three: Recurring charity (he has made), or knowledge which he has benefited (others) with, or a righteous son who supplicates for him,43 and he did not say: or a righteous son who recites for him, or prays for him, or fasts for him, or gives charity for him, but he said: or a righteous son who supplicates for him, and the connection is in connection of the action so that showed the best is that the person supplicates for the dead (person). Not that he makes

Ruling on Recitation of the Quraan for Dead Persons Soul

something from the righteous actions for him, and the person is in need for the righteous action, he would find its reward saved for him with Allah, Azza wa Jal.

As for what some people do from the recitation (of the Quraan) for the dead (person) after his death with a payment, such as to bring a reciter to read the Quraan with a payment, in order (for) his reward (to be) for the dead person, but this is an innovation and his reward does not reach the dead person because this reciter only read for the worldly reason, and whoever comes with a worship for the worldly reason, then there is no share for him from it (the worship) in the Hereafter, as Allah, the Blessed and Exalted said, Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full (the wages of) their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do. [Surah Hood 11: 15 16] And I want to direct an advice in this occasion to my brothers who are accustomed to such action that they preserve their wealth for themselves or for the inheritance of the dead and that they know that this action is an innovation in its essence, and his reward does not reach the dead (person), because the reciter, there is no intention for him in his reading except the taking of the payment, there is no reward for him with Allah, Azza wa Jal, then he may have taken the wealth but the dead (person) did not benefit by that. Footnotes

41 Imam Malik reported it in the Muawatta (2/760), and An-Nasaaee (3655) 42 Al-Bukhari reported it (1388) and Muslim (1004) 43 Muslim reported it (1631)

Ruling on Recitation of the Quraan for Dead Persons Soul

1

Aisha radi Allahu anha narrated: A man said to the Prophet sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, "My mother died suddenly and I thought that if she had lived she would have given alms. So, if I give alms now on her behalf, will she get the reward?" The Prophet replied in the affirmative. [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book 2,Volume 23, Hadith 470]

Translations note: The English is taken from the online hadith software and Arabic text is taken from the online hadith explanation software, Fathul Baree. Taken from the Book, Fiqhul Ibaadah by Shaykh Muhammad Saleh Ibn Uthaymeen Translated by Nasrin As-Salafiyah