Mufti Yusuf Moosagie 

27th July 2021

Losing a loved one is the most challenging thing we have to deal with as humans. In the physical sense, we may not be able to meet and speak to the person who has passed on; however, there are specific actions we can observe to maintain our relationship with the deceased person and continue benefiting the deceased. Here are five such actions

1. Dua For Forgiveness 

وَالَّذِينَ جَاءُوا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ 10)

And those who come after them say: “Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have passed before us with Faith. And do not leave in our hearts any grudge towards those who believe. Our Lord, you are indeed full of Kindness, the Most Merciful”. Verse 10 Surah Hashr

Establish a  habit to daily making Dua for the deceased from your family and the entire Ummah.

2. Isaalus Sawaab 

Isaalus Sawaab is to perform a virtuous act and grant the reward to any person, alive or deceased. This is not only permissible, but in fact, it is encouraged.

عن أبي هُرَيرَة رَضِيَ اللهُ عنه: ((أنَّ رجلًا قال للنبي صلَّى الله عليه وسلَّم: إنَّ أبي مات، وترك مالًا، ولم يُوصِ؛ فهل يكفِّرُ عنه إن تصدَّقْتُ عنه؟ فقال: نعمْ- صحيح النسائي

Sayyidina Abu Huraira Radiyallahu Anhu reports that a man came to Nabi Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam and said, “My father passed away, left wealth and did not make a bequest – will it atone for him if I give charity on his behalf? Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said: “Yes”. [Nasai]

Any act of worship that we observe, whether physical or monetary in nature, we can transfer the reward to our deceased loved ones, and in sha Allah, this will be means of tremendous benefit for them

3. Sadqatul Jariya 

To do specific actions that would result in continuous reward even after the demise of a person.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ مِمَّا يَلْحَقُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَحَسَنَاتِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ عِلْمًا عَلَّمَهُ وَنَشَرَهُ وَوَلَدًا صَالِحًا تَرَكَهُ وَمُصْحَفًا وَرَّثَهُ أَوْ مَسْجِدًا بَنَاهُ أَوْ بَيْتًا لاِبْنِ السَّبِيلِ بَنَاهُ أَوْ نَهْرًا أَجْرَاهُ أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فِي صِحَّتِهِ وَحَيَاتِهِ يَلْحَقُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهِ ‏“‏ – ابن ماجه

‘The rewards of the good deeds that will reach a believer after his death are:

1. Knowledge which he taught and spread;
2. A righteous child whom he leaves behind;
3. A copy of the Qur’an that he leaves as a  legacy;
4. A masjid that he built;
5. A house that he made for travellers;
6. A canal that he dug;
7. A charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health.

These deeds will reach him after his death.” (Sunan Ibn  Majah)

These are some of the actions that we could do in our lifetime, and we would attain the reward even after we left this world. Similarly, it can be observed with the intention that reward accrues to the deceased.

4. Visit The Graveyard 

Abu Huraira relates the Prophet’s words,

زُورُوهَا : فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّرُ الْآخِرَةَ – رواه مسلم

“Visit graves, for it reminds one of his death.” (Sahih Muslim)

One may visit the graveyard any time. However, it is preferable for one to visit the cemetery on a Friday. [Raddul Muhtar, Vol. 2, P. 242]

5. Maintain The Relationships of The Deceased

Sayyidina Abdullah bin Umar Radiyallahu Anhu reports that Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam:

إِنَّ أَبَرَّ الْبِرِّ صِلَةُ الْوَلَدِ أَهْلَ وُدِّ أَبِيهِ ‏”‏ ‏.رواه مسلم ‏

“The finest act of goodness on the part of a son is to treat the loved ones of his father kindly.”

Regularly visit, phone or message the friends and family of your deceased loved one. This will be a means of keeping the memories alive and strengthening relationships.

We should not see death as the end of our relationship with our deceased loved ones but rather the beginning of a new kind of relationship.

May Almighty Allah grant all the deceased complete forgiveness and give the surviving family members beautiful patience.