Conveying Rewards to the Deceased

As a Muslim, one has a firm believe that death is not the end of life, it is just the end of a stage of this worldly existence and the beginning of a new existence in the next world called barzukh. Barzakh is the world of souls.According to Quran and Hadith, a soul may experience this new life with or without its original body, according to its own rank allotted to it by Allah.However the relatives of a dead person who are alive can increase his rank in the next world  by some deeds  which are  permissible in Islam. These acts are:

• The recitation of Holy Qur’an
• Giving Charity
• Nafil Salaat (Non Obligatory)
• Fasts and Good Deeds
• Umrah or Hajj
• The prayers

 

All muslim men and women will receive the same reward without any deduction; and the person who does good deeds on bahalf of deceased person  will also receive the same reward without any loss.  This belief is also backed up by the Holy Quran:

“And that man will not obtain anything except what he strove for” (Najm 53:39)

“And those who believe and whose families follow them in Faith, — to them We shall join their families: nor shall We deprive them of the fruit of anything of their works: yet each individual is in pledge for his deeds” (Toor 52:21).”

If the parents are righteous, then the children will enter heaven according to this verse.

Abu Huraira (Allah be well pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings 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).

The dead people cannot do any more actions inside the grave, therefore their bodies cannot move like they used to on earth. But that does not mean that they cannot increase their rank at all.  The prayers of their holy sons can bless them.

Verses of Quran   

Verse 1
And those who came after them say, “O our Lord! Forgive us, and our brothers who accepted faith before us, and do not keep any malice in our hearts towards the believers – O our Lord! Indeed You only are the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.” (Hashr 59:10)

Sahaba also used to pray for the diseaced as they believed their ranks could increase through prayers and mercy of God.

Verse 2
“O our Lord! And forgive me, and my parents, and all the Muslims on the day when the account will be established.” (Ibrahim 14:41)

Verse 3
And those who believe and whose families follow them in Faith, — to them We shall join their families: nor shall We deprive them of the fruit of anything of their works: yet each individual is in pledge for his deeds.” (Toor 52:21)

Verse 4
And lower your wing humbly for them, with mercy, and pray, “My Lord! Have mercy on them both, the way they nursed me when I was young.” (Bani Israel 17:24)

Seeking mercy for our parents when they die is also a good deed.

According to a Hadith, Abu Huraira (Allah be well pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings 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)

 

Source: islamicacademy.org/html/Articles/English/EisaleSawab.htm