🗒️ Some notes regarding doing good deeds on behalf of Muslims who died, specially one's deceased parents:
1] Including them in your Du'as / supplications regularly, praying to Allah the Almighty that He forgives them, protects them from the torment of the grave and jahannam, and destines them to be among the people of Jannatul Ferdaus, can benefit Muslims who have passed away.
2] The rewards of doing charity for Allah's sake
can Inn-sha-Allah benefit Muslims in their graves. Some examples of charitable deeds you can do on their behalf include:
1) Giving some financial assistance, clothing, food, or free accommodation to the needy and less fortunate on behalf of the deceased.
2) Providing food and drink to birds and animals on behalf of the dead, specially if they frequently fed stray cats when they were alive.
3) Building a well, water tank, or providing water for the people, including travelers or clients, on behalf of the deceased.
4) Constructing an orphanage, under their name or on their behalf, where Muslim orphans can reside for free and study about Islam.
5) Distributing authentic Islamic books on their behalf or occasionally sharing some of their Islamic writings, articles, and recorded Islamic lectures.
3] Doing good deeds on someone's behalf doesn't really benefit a person who didn't live as a Muslim.
4] If a Muslim died during Ramadan and they weren't able to complete the remaining fasts, any of their immediate relatives or close friends can fast the obligatory fasts on their behalf. Inn-sha-Allah they can earn rewards for kindly assisting them in completing their fasts.
5] There is no need to fast missed obligatory fasts if the deceased Muslims had a justifiable or valid excuse for not fasting, such as coma, long-term illness, and any disease which prevented them from doing the good deeds they usually do.
6] The rewards of reading any chapter / Surah from the Noble Qur'an and fasting Sunnah / voluntary fasts on behalf of the dead can't really reach them. Your Du'as are more rewarding and effective if you pray for their forgiveness while fasting your own Sunnah fasts.
7] Inn-sha-Allah you may perform Hajj and/or Umrah / pilgrimage on behalf of deceased Muslims, even if they have performed Hajj at least once before when they were living.
Allah the Almighty knows best.
~•~
📖 Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and she said, "My mother has died and she owed a month of fasting." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Do you think if she had a debt you would repay it on her behalf?" She said "yes." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The debts of Allah are more worthy to be repaid."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 1902
Sahih Muslim 1132
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
📖 Abdullah Ibn Amr RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "The martyr is forgiven for every sin except debt."
Source: Sahih Muslim 1886
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/2849/%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA
https://binbaz.org.sa/fatwas/15388/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AC-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%AA
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