My mother cannot read the Qur’an, so I began reciting it and gifting the reward to her, but later heard this may not be permissible. Will Qur’an recitation or other deeds benefit her, or is it only du‘a that reaches her?
Question
Bottom Line
Stick to the Sunnah. Make dua, give charity on behalf of the deceased to benefit them.
Quick Answer
The stronger opinion is that reciting the Qur’an for the dead does not benefit them, since there is no evidence. What clearly benefits the deceased are du‘a, charity, Hajj, and fasting if they had missed obligatory fasts.
Key Points
- Qur’an recitation for the dead is not supported by authentic evidence.
- Charity and du‘a benefit both the living and the dead by consensus.
- Hajj and ‘Umrah may be performed for the deceased or for someone alive but unable to travel.
- Missed obligatory fasts must be made up for the deceased by their heirs.
- A righteous child’s du‘a is one of the greatest gifts to parents.
Detailed Answer
Scholars differed about Qur’an recitation for the dead, but the stronger view is that its reward does not reach them, as neither the Prophet ﷺ nor the Companions practiced this. Acts of worship must be based on evidence, and there is no authentic proof that dedicating Qur’an recitation benefits the deceased.
What is agreed upon is that du‘a and charity benefit the deceased. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When the son of Adam dies, all his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who will pray for him.”
(Muslim 1631)
Charity benefits the living and the dead alike, and du‘a likewise benefits both.
Hajj and ‘Umrah may also be done on behalf of someone who has died, or someone alive but too weak or old to go. The Prophet ﷺ permitted this explicitly in hadith.
Fasting must be made up for the deceased if they owed obligatory fasts (Ramadan, vows, expiations). The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever dies and was obliged to fast, let his next of kin fast on his behalf.”
(al-Bukhari, Muslim)
If someone died with a valid excuse before making up missed fasts, nothing is required on their behalf.
What Benefits the Deceased vs. What Does Not
| ✅ Benefits the Deceased | ❌ Does Not Benefit the Deceased |
|---|---|
| Du‘a (supplication) | Reciting Qur’an on their behalf (no evidence) |
| Charity (sadaqah, sadaqah jariyah, endowments) | Voluntary prayers on their behalf |
| Hajj or ‘Umrah if they died or cannot perform it | Voluntary fasting on their behalf (unless it was owed) |
| Fasting on their behalf if they owed obligatory fasts | Any worship not established in Qur’an or Sunnah to transfer the reward |
What That Means for You
Do not dedicate Qur’an recitation to your mother, as it is not established in the Sunnah. Instead, honor her through charity and du‘a, both while she is alive and after her death. If she cannot perform Hajj or fasting, you may do so on her behalf. Above all, focus on being a righteous child, because your du‘a is more likely to be accepted and is one of the greatest gifts you can offer your parents.
And Allah knows best
References
Primary Sources:
-
Sahih Muslim 1631
-
Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim
Secondary Sources:
-
Ibn Baz, Majmoo‘ Fatawa wa Maqalat Mutanawwi‘ah, vol. 4, p. 348
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