Abu Talha gave his most valuable well and garden, BiвЂ™r Haa as charity on behalf of his deceased mother. One specific incident is of Syedna Abu Talha (Radhiallaahy Anhu) when the verse, вЂYou cannot attain virtue until you spend what is beloved to youвЂ¦вЂ™ (Nisaa 4) was revealed. On numerous occasions, Nabi Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam advised the Sahaba (Radhiyallaahu Anhum) to give charity on behalf of the deceased.

Isaal-e-Sawaab (to perform a virtuous act and grant the reward to any person, alive or deceased) is permissible. May Allah bless all our Marhooms and grant them Jannatul Firdaws. as advised by our beloved Rasul Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam. The only way to benefit the deceased is to send sawab to him by carrying out acts of virtue, for example, reciting QurвЂ™an, making dua for him, giving charity, etc. How can such a practice benefit the deceased? Obviously, such a practice leading to sin invokes the anger of Allah. Any practice that leads to a possible distortion of deen is prohibited and a major sin. Many people may regard the practice as necessary and an integral part of deen as is the case among many unwary people today. To emphasize and carry out a particular practice not proven in ShariвЂ™ah, for example fateha, leads to distortion of deen. Had the customary practice of fateha been of any significance, he surely would have at least practiced it or ordered its practice at least once in his lifetime.

It is not proven on any one occasion that the Prophet himself practiced or ordered the customary practice of fateha (7 days, 40 days, and 100 days). Many Sahaba, Radi-Allahu anhu, enquired from the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam about Isal-e-Sawab. It was his noble habit to comfort the bereaved families and widows. During the time of the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, many deaths occurred. However, in order for the deceased to benefit from the gifts of his beloved, they must be channeled to him in the correct way the way of our beloved Prophet (Sall-Allahu Alayhi wa Sallam). Surely, the deceased eagerly waits for rewards from his beloved wife, parents and friends by them making dua for his forgiveness, and giving charity, etc. There are also many ahadith on Isal-e-Sawab (sending reward to the deceased). There are innumerable number of ahadith expounding the virtues of reciting the QurвЂ™an and making dua. Contextually, fateha is the recitation of a few ayats of the QurвЂ™an followed by a dua for the deceased.

How best can we help the deceasedвЂ™s close family member (parents or wife/husband) in order to helpВ him/her earn rewards in Jannah?ДЄ.) Upon the death of a person, it is a common practice to make fateha. However, I am also told that such a thing is an innovation (bid`ah), and should not be done. It is a very common tradition to have Khatam-e-QurвЂ™an and food on the 40th day after a personвЂ™s death with the intention of Isal-e-sawab for the deceased.

Isale sawab dua