Fatwa ID: 07549

Answered by: Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

Question:

Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Can one donate money or give sadaqah on behalf of their parents who took riba, whether intentionally or unintentionally, to cover up the punishment in this world and the Hereafter, and to seek forgiveness from Allah for them?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Wa alaikum as salām wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh,

Abu Qatadah reported: The Messenger of Allah said, 

“The best of what a man leaves behind are three: a righteous child who supplicates for him, ongoing charity the reward of which reaches him, and knowledge that is acted upon after him.” [Sunan Ibn Majah 237]

Abu Huraira reported: A man said to the Prophet, 

“My father has died and he left behind some property without drafting a will for it. Will his sin be expiated if I give charity on his behalf?” The Prophet said, “Yes.” [Sahih Muslim 1630]

Kindness towards parents extends beyond their lifetime and continues even after their death. A Muslim can honour and show dutifulness to deceased parents by making dua (supplication) for them, performing voluntary good deeds on their behalf, and fulfilling their religious duties such as Hajj (Pilgrimage), Sawm (Fasting), Zakah (Obligatory charity), and Kaffarah (expiation) in their name, especially if they passed away without completing these obligations or were unable to fulfil them. It is encouraged to do good deeds on behalf of one’s parents. There is no difference of opinion with regards to the reward of giving in charity on behalf of the deceased and supplicating for them.  

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

  عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْرُ مَا يُخَلِّفُ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ ثَلَاثٌ وَلَدٌ صَالِحٌ يَدْعُو لَهُ وَصَدَقَةٌ تَجْرِي يَبْلُغُهُ أَجْرُهَا وَعِلْمٌ يُعْمَلُ بِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ

237 سنن ابن ماجه كتاب المقدمة باب ثواب معلم الناس الخير

  وَهُوَ قَوْلُ الشَّافِعِيِّ الْقَرِيبُ أَوْلَى مِنْ السُّلْطَانِ، لِأَبِي يُوسُفَ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ أَنَّ هَذَا أَمْرٌ مَبْنِيٌّ عَلَى الْوَلَايَةِ، وَالْقَرِيبُ فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا مُقَدَّمٌ عَلَى السُّلْطَانِ، كَمَا فِي النِّكَاحِ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنْ التَّصَرُّفَاتِ؛ وَلِأَنَّ هَذِهِ الصَّلَاةَ شُرِعَتْ لِلدُّعَاءِ وَالشَّفَاعَةِ لِلْمَيِّتِ، وَدُعَاءُ الْقَرِيبِ أَرْجَى؛ لِأَنَّهُ يُبَالِغُ فِي إخْلَاصِ الدُّعَاءِ، وَإِحْضَارِ الْقَلْبِ بِسَبَبِ زِيَادَةِ شَفَقَتِهِ، وَتُوجَدُ مِنْهُ زِيَادَةُ رِقَّةٍ وَتَضَرُّعٍ فَكَانَ أَقْرَبَ إلَى الْإِجَابَةِ، وَلِأَبِي حَنِيفَةَ وَمُحَمَّدٍ مَا رُوِيَ «أَنَّ الْحَسَنَ بْنَ عَلِيٍّ لَمَّا مَاتَ قَدَّمَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ سَعِيدَ بْنَ الْعَاصِ لِيُصَلِّيَ عَلَيْهِ – وَكَانَ وَالِيًا بِالْمَدِينَةِ – وَقَالَ: لَوْلَا السُّنَّةُ مَا قَدَّمْتُكَ، وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: لَوْلَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ نَهَى عَنْ التَّقَدُّمِ لَمَا قَدَّمْتُكَ» ؛ وَلِأَنَّ هَذَا مِنْ الْأُمُورِ الْعَامَّةِ فَيَكُونُ مُتَعَلِّقًا بِالسُّلْطَانِ كَإِقَامَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالْعِيدَيْنِ بِخِلَافِ النِّكَاحِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ الْأُمُورِ الْخَاصَّةِ، وَضَرَرُهُ وَنَفْعُهُ يَتَّصِلُ بِالْوَلِيِّ لَا بِالسُّلْطَانِ، فَكَانَ إثْبَاتُ الْوَلَايَةِ لِلْقَرِيبِ أَنْفَعَ لِلْمُوَلَّى عَلَيْهِ، وَتِلْكَ وِلَايَةُ نَظَرٍ ثَبَتَتْ حَقًّا لِلْمُوَلَّى عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ الْوَلِيِّ بِخِلَافِ مَا نَحْنُ فِيهِ.

ص317 – كتاب بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع – فصل بيان من له ولاية الصلاة على الميت – المكتبة الشاملة