What can we do to benefit our departed Muslim brothers and sisters?

 Compiled and Edited By : Syed Muhammed Ismaeel.

What can we do to benefit our departed Muslim brothers and sisters?

Death – A grim reality

Death is inevitable. We all shall die one day. But, do we really know what it is? What should we do when our loved ones depart from this life, and what has our beloved prophet taught us regarding death?

There are many verses in the Holy Qur’aan, which mention death, and some of them are quoted below, with appropriate references:

 Allah Almighty says, “Every self will taste death. You will be paid your wages in full on the Day of Rising. Anyone who is distanced from the Fire and admitted to the Garden, has triumphed. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of delusion,” (3:185) [ Translation taken from: The Muslim Village ]

So, we all shall TASTE DEATH. This word indicates that death is not a complete destruction, such that nothing remains after a person dies. We don’t turn into “NOTHING” after our death. In Islam, we all know and believe in Life After Death. So, what has our religion taught us about the events that happen when a person dies? Let’s see.

To understand death easily, we can compare it to sleep. The prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) himself compared sleep with death, as narrated in Tabarani, Hadith Number 9061 [ Source: Islamic Archive ] Here is the translated version of this narration along with the Arabic text:

It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir Bin Abdullah (RA) that he said that the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was asked, “Do the people sleep in paradise?” He replied: “Sleep is the brother of Death, and the people of paradise do not sleep.”

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ : سُئِلَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، فَقِيلَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ، أَيَنَامُ أَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ ؟ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " النَّوْمُ أَخُو الْمَوْتِ ، وَأَهْلُ الْجَنَّةِ لَا يَنَامُونَ"

So, what happens when we sleep? Let’s say that your brother, Ahmad is sleeping. Now, if you are sitting next to him while he is dreaming about flying in the air, or swimming in a pool, or any such activity which involves motion and movement, you would remain unaware of his adventures. Right? Our souls are taken out of our bodies while we are asleep.

Allah has mentioned that in the Holy Qur’aan, in Surah Zumar, Aayah 42:

“Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.” [ Source: Quran.ksu.edu.sa ]

So, when we sleep, there is a weak connection of our soul with our body, and it is returned to the body when we are about to wake up. But when we die, the connection of the soul with our body becomes almost negligible.

The prophet has taught us a supplication that we should make to Allah before going to sleep. It also reminds us that our souls are taken by Allah while we sleep, and are returned to us as we are about to wake up. It is as follows:

“Bismika Rabbee wada’tu janbi wa bika arfa’uhu wa in amsakta nafsi farhamhaa wa in arsaltahaa fahfazhaa bimaa tuhfaz bihi ‘ibaadika al-saaliheen (In Your name, my Lord, I lie down, and in Your name I rise. If You should take my soul then have mercy on it, and if You should return my soul then protect it as You protect Your righteous slaves).” When the Muslim wakes up, he should say, “Al-hamdu Lillaah alladhi ‘aafaani fi jasadi wa radda ‘alayya roohi wa adhina li bi dhikrihi (Praise be to Allaah Who has restored to me my health and returned my soul and has allowed me to remember Him).” (Reported by Al-Tirmizi, Hadith Number: 3323. He said, حديثٌ حَسَنٌ – which means that it has been narrated by more than one chain of narrators.)

What happens after we die?

There are many authentic narrations which state the condition and experiences of a dead person after death. Here is a narration from Sahih Al Bukhari:

عَن أنَس بن مالِك رضِي الله عنه أنَّه حَدَّثهم أن رَسول الله صَلى الله عليه وسَلم قال : إنَّ العَبد إِذا وُضِع في قَبره وتَوَلى عَنْه أصْحابُه – وإنه لَيَسْمَعُ قَرْعَ نِعَالِهم  – أتَاه مَلَكانِ، فَيُقعِدَانِه، فَيَقُولانِ : "مَا كُنتَ تقُولُ في هٰذا الرَّجل ؟ " (لِمُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى الله عَليه وَسَلَّم) فأما المؤمن فيقول : "أشهد أنه عبد الله ورسوله."  إلخ. ~ الصحيح البُخارى: حديث 1308

 [ Al Bukhari, Hadith Number: 1308. Taken from Islamweb.net ]

Translation: It is narrated by Hazrat Anas Bin Malik (RA) that the prophet (PBUH) said: “When a person is placed in the grave, and his companions (Those who accompanied his funeral procession and his relatives) return (after the burial) – and surely he hears the sound of their shoes – two angels come to him, and make him sit, and say: “What do you say about this person?” (pointing to the holy Prophet PBUH). The believer says: “I bear witness that he is Allah’s slave and Messenger.” – … (the narration continues to describe the reward for the believer and the punishment of the disbeliever.)

From this narration and the ones on the same topic, we can easily understand that after death, a new life begins, which we can not detect via science and technology. We have yet to fully understand our dreams, let alone have any control over them! So, how can afterlife be described in scientific terms without the help of these types of authentic narrations by our beloved prophet PBUH?

The life after our death, and before the Qiyamah is called as the Barzakh. It simply means “Barrier”. There are different types of people going through this stage. There are some who are being rewarded for their good deeds, and some are not so lucky. Some people, who are very pious, like the prophets and the martyrs are rewarded with the strongest type of life, and their earthly bodies are also preserved well. There are narrations which mention that the bodies of the Huffaz (Those who have memorized the Holy Qur’aan) are also not decomposed in the soil. Allah has discouraged us from calling those who have been martyred in the way of Allah as dead. Instead, he has informed us that they are alive, and are being given sustenance by their lord.

Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 154:
 “وَلَا تَقُولُوا لِمَن يُقْتَلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَمْوَاتٌ ۚ بَلْ أَحْيَاءٌ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تَشْعُرُونَ”

Translation: And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not. [ Taken from: Quran.ksu.edu.sa ]

Now, when we have understood that death is just a form of new existence and not complete annihilation, we may wonder if we can, in any way, help our deceased relatives and friends. If you are not aware of this already, you might understand the fact that the only currency in the hereafter, the afterlife, or life after death is the reward given to us by Allah for our good deeds in this world.

The proof for this is that there is a narration of our beloved prophet PBUH, which states that when a person dies, everything that he had in this world, like wealth and children, properties, etc., will be left behind, and only his actions (and their rewards or results) will accompany him to the grave. Here is the Hadith from Sahih Al-Bukhari:

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ حَزْمٍ سَمِعَ أَنَسَ بْنَ مَالِكٍ يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: يَتْبَعُ الْمَيِّتَ ثَلَاثَةٌ، فَيَرْجِعُ اثْنَانِ وَيَبْقَى مَعَهُ وَاحِدٌ. يَتْبَعُهُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَعَمَلُهُ، فَيَرْجِعُ أَهْلُهُ وَمَالُهُ وَيَبْقَى عَمَلُهُ. 
 ] فَتْحُ البَارِى على صَحِيح البُخَارِى [ Taken from: islamweb.net Hadith Number: 6149 –

Translation: Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abi Bakr Bin Amr Bin Hazm narrated to us that he had heard Hazrat Anas Bin Malik (RA) say that the prophet PBUH had said: “Three things follow the dead person to the grave; two of them return, and one stays with him. His family (and friends), his wealth (like slaves, vehicles, etc.), and his deeds follow him to the grave. His family and wealth return, and his deeds stay (with him).” [Translated by Syed Muhammed Ismaeel, the author.]

How can we help our deceased brothers and sisters?

As you already are aware that the dead people can no longer continue doing good deeds that result in them being rewarded, one may wonder if they can somehow benefit their deceased relatives and friends in some way. Well, there is a way. We can do good deeds, like giving charity, and praying for their well being in the afterlife. Since this is something that we cannot prove through logic and science alone, lets see what our beloved prophet has to say on this matter. Here is a narration from Sahih Al-Bukhari:

أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ – (أَخَا بَنِي سَاعِدَةَ) تُوُفِّيَتْ أُمُّهُ وَهُوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي تُوُفِّيَتْ وَأَنَا غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا فَهَلْ يَنْفَعُهَا شَيْءٌ إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِهِ عَنْهَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: فَإِنِّي أُشْهِدُكَ أَنَّ حَائِطِيَ الْمِخْرَافَ صَدَقَةٌ عَلَيْهَا. ] فَتْحُ البَارِى على صَحِيح البُخَارِى [ Taken from: islamweb.net Hadith No.: 2611–

Translation: Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbas has informed us that Hazrat Sa’d Bin Ubadah’s (RA), (a man from Bani Saidah) mother had died while he was away from her. So, he came to the prophet PBUH and asked: “O Messenger of Allah! My mother died while I was away from her, so, will it benefit her if I gave something in charity on her behalf?” The prophet replied, “Yes.” He (Hazrat Sa’d) said, “I would like you to bear witness that my orchard Mikhraaf is a charity on her behalf.” [Translated by Syed Muhammed Ismaeel, the author.]

From this narration, we understand that the reward we get for giving wealth in charity can be gifted to the dead people. Is it same for our worship? Can we perform an act of worship, like fasting, and gift the reward for the dead? Yes, we can. Here is a narration from Sahih Al-Bukhari, which clarifies this point:

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، إِنَّ أُمِّي مَاتَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا صَوْمُ شَهْرٍ. أَفَأَقْضِيهِ عَنْهَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ "فَدَيْنُ اللَّهِ أَحَقُّ أَنْ يُقْضَى."

Translation: It is narrated by Hazrat Abdullah Bin Abbas (RA) that he said: A man came to the prophet PBUH, and asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! My mother has died, and she had a month of fasting obligatory on her. So, can I repay it for her?” He said: “Yes. Because Allah’s debt is more worthy of being repaid.”

This means that we can gift the rewards of our good deeds to the dead. The majority of the Ahl-e-Sunnah-wal-Jama’ah say that we can gift the rewards of our good deeds to both the living and the dead. Here is a Fatwa (religious edicts) regarding this topic. It is a short version:

” مَن صَام أو صَلَّی أو تَصَدَّق وَجعَل ثَوابه لِغَیرہ مِن الأمواتِ والأحیاءِ جَازَ، ویَصِلُ ثَوابُہَا إلیہِم عِندَ أهْلِ السُّنَّة وَالجماعَة.“  ~ الشامِي

Translation: The one who fasts or prays or gives in charity and gifts the reward to others, dead or alive, then it is permissible, and the rewards reach them according to the belief of Ahl-e-Sunnah-wal-Jama’ah. ~ Shami. [Taken from: darulifta-deoband.com]

So, we should pray for our deceased relatives and friends, and from time to time, send them gifts in the form of the rewards mentioned above. There is a narration which states that there are some lucky people who keep getting the rewards of their deeds long after their death. These people are the ones who have gained religious knowledge, and spread it among people, and as long as there are people benefiting from that knowledge, the dead person shall get the rewards. Similarly, any Sadaqah-e-Jaariyah (Perpetual Charity), like planting trees, writing a good book, construction of mosques, etc., also have lasting rewards. Here is a narration to support this, narrated by Sahih Muslim:

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ  -رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ - قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : " إِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْيَاءَ : صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ  ~ " . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ .

Translation: It is narrated by Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) that he said that the prophet PBUH had said: “When a person dies, his deeds come to an end, except from three things: Perpetual Charity, or Knowledge that is beneficial, or a pious child who prays for him. (for the deceased person)” Narrated by Muslim. [Taken from: Riyadh-As-Saliheen and Islamweb.net]

Visiting graves

Our prophet had stopped us from visiting graves, due to the possibility of unlawful and unwanted activities that could take place there. But, after a while, he gave permission to visit graves, because visiting them reminds us of our destination, the Afterlife, and makes us realise that we too shall die one day. This can help us in performing good deeds and abstaining from sins. Here is the narration regarding this:

عَنْ ابْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: نَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الْقُبُورِ، فَزُورُوهَا. وَنَهَيْتُكُمْ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْأَضَاحِيِّ فَوْقَ ثَلَاثٍ، فَأَمْسِكُوا مَا بَدَا لَكُمْ …  الخ.  ~ رَواهُ مُسْلِم.

Translation: It is narrated by the son of Buraidah (RA) from his father (Buraidah) that he said that the prophet PBUH had said: “I had prohibited you from visiting graves, but now, go and visit them. And I had prohibited you from keeping the meat of the Qurbani (Sacrifice) for more than 3 days, so now you can store them for as long as you wish.” … (the hadith continues.) [Taken from: Islamweb.net] [Hadith 1623, Sahih Muslim]

Well, the main purpose of visiting graves is to remember that we shall die too, and get motivation to do good deeds to help us lead a better life in the hereafter. Here are some things that we should not do while visiting a grave:

۞    No wiping hands over the graves.

۞    No kissing or circumambulation around them.

۞    No sacrificing animals for the dead.

۞    No sitting on the grave or walking on top of them.

۞    No praying toward the graves.

۞    No breaking the bones of the dead.

۞    No placing pictures or flowers on top of the grave.

So, we should all follow the path shown to us by our beloved prophet PBUH, and keep improving ourselves.