Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

what can one do for people who are dead like for example my grandparents are dead what can i do for them i have heard that if i can do something like make a well or make some madrassa it might help them please let me know on this 

 

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Answer:

 

How to help deceased dead grand parents?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'When a person dies all his good deeds cease except for three:

a continuous act of charity (which the deceased did in his lifetime),

beneficial knowledge (which the deceased left behind),

and a righteous son (children) who prays for him'.''

Related by Muslim and Abu Dawood.

 

Abu Hurairah reported, "The Prophet (saws) said, 'The righteous works that continue to benefit a believer after his death include the knowledge that he taught and spread among others, a righteous son (children) whom he leaves behind, or a copy of the Qur'an that he bequeaths to his inheritors, or a mosque that he builds, or a rest house that he builds for the wayfarers, or a canal of water that he digs for the benefit of others, or a charity that he gives out of his property during his life while he is sound of health. He will continue to receive reward for all these even after his death.'

Related by Ibn Maajah.

 

Your Question: what can one do for people who are dead like for example my grandparents are dead what can i do for them

The Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believers that when a person dies, the recording in his Book of Deeds or Records is closed, except for three things:

If the deceased did charity in his lifetime that has been beneficial to mankind even after his death (like building mosques, schools, orphanages, public wells, etc.)

If the deceased shared his knowledge with others during his lifetime, which is beneficial to others even after his death.

And their righteous children who supplicate Allah Subhanah for the forgiveness of their parents.

 

Thus my dear and beloved brother in Islam, the truth of the matter is whatever good you do, your parents and fore-parents will have a reward in it, without any diminish in your own reward for the deed; for your parents were instrumental in your  becoming a good and righteous believer.   Thus whatever good and righteous deeds you do, your parents and your fore-parents will have a reward in it, whether you wish a reward for them or not, provided it was they who taught you and brought you up to be a good believer.   Such is the Merciful Accounting and Grace of the Lord Most Merciful.

 

Your Question: i have heard that if i can do something like make a well or make some madrassa it might help them please let me know on this 

Jarir ibn Abdallah reported: "The Prophet (saws) said: 'Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam will get its reward and the rewards for all those who follow these practices after him, without any loss to their reward.  And whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam will acquire its sin and the sins of all those who practice it, without any decrease in their sins."

 

Building a school which teaches others religious and righteous knowledge and making wells for people so that they may avail water, etc., are indeed good righteous deeds in Islam, and whether or not if you wish the reward of these deeds reach your grand-parents, they will have a reward in it without there being a reduction in your reward; provided they were the ones who brought up your father (or mother) to be good believers and they in turn brought you up as a good believer.  Thus the more good deeds you do, the more you will be able to help elevate their status in the Hereafter!

 

One of the best things a righteous son (or grand-son) can and must do is to remain constant in supplicating the Merciful Lord for their parents and fore-parents, and implore Allah Subhanah constantly to forgive them their sins and short-comings, have Mercy upon them, and raise their status and rewards in the Hereafter.   It is expected that the Merciful Lord will accept your good supplications for them, and reward them also for all the good and righteous deeds that you do.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your Brother in Islam,

 

 

Burhan