Benefitting the Dead
Creator: Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Date: 2007-08-11
Format: text
Identifier: http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=246
Language: en
Rights: by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Subject: death
Title: Benefitting the Dead
Created on: Sat Aug 11 12:00:59 -0400 2007
Updated on: Sat Aug 11 12:00:59 -0400 2007
Version: 1
Abstract: ... daa's home in Syria, but did not find him there. Ummud-Dardaa asked [me], 'Are you going to make Hajj this year?' I said: 'Yes.' She said, 'Pray to Allaah for good for us, for the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, "The prayer of Muslim for his Muslim brother in his absence will be answered. As long as he prays for the good of his brother, there is an angel assigned near his head who says: Amen, and may the same be for you."’ I left and went to the marketplace where I met Abud-Dardaa and he related from the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) the same as that." [Sahih Muslim, vol.4, p.1429, no.6590.] Fasting Fasts missed by dead persons may be done on their behalf by their close relatives. The fasts may be from Ramalaan or from oaths (nathar). `Aa'ishah quoted Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) as saying, "Whoever died owing fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf" [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 3, p.99, no.173, and Sahih Muslim, vol. 2, p.556, no. 2553.] Ibn 'Abbaas said: A man came to the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) and asked: O Messenger of Allaah, my mother died owing one month of fasting. Should I do it for her? He replied, "Yes, debts to Allaah, have more right to be paid." [Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 3, p. 99, no. 174, and Sahih Muslim, vol. 2, p. 556, no. 2554.] In another narration a woman asked about her mother’s debt of fasting and got the same reply. [Sahih Muslim, vol. 2, pp. 556-7, nos. 2554, 2557-61.] Paying Financial Debts Anyone may cover the debts of a dead person, whether they are relatives or not. Furthermore, the payment of outstanding debts can benefit the dead by relieving them from some of the punishment due to them for their negligence in repaying them. Jaabir said: A man died and we washed him, perfumed him and shrouded him. Then we brought him to Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) to lead the funeral prayer for him. We asked, "Could you pray for him?" He took a step forward then asked, "Does he have any outstanding debts?" We answered: "Two deenaars." [He said, "Make the funeral prayer for your companion," and] [This addition can be found in another narration of the hadeeth] began to leave. Aboo Qataadah took responsibility for [paying] them, saying, "The two deenaars are my responsibility." Allaah's Messenger (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) asked, "Will the creditor be taken care of and will the dead person be absolved from them?" He replied, "Yes," so the Prophet (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) led the funeral prayer for him. One day later he asked [Aboo Qataadah], "What was done about the two deenaars?... [Full Article...]
