This Prayer for the Deceased Is an Innovation
Fatwa No: 428020

Question

Assalamu alaikum. Someone told me that a dead person will be relieved during his stay in the grave if I do the following the first day he was taken to the grave:Pray two raka’ats, and in each raka’at I recite; Fatiha-1, Ayatul kursiy-1, Suratul Takathur-1, Suratul Ikhlas-11. Please Sheikh is this permissible?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

What that person told you it is not true; rather, it is an innovation in religion. The deceased rejoices in his grave with his righteous deeds that will come to him in the form of a man with a beautiful face, as in the Hadeeth: “…. And a man with a beautiful face, beautiful garments, and a sweet odor comes to him and says, ‘Rejoice in what pleases you for this is your day which you have been promised.' He asks, ‘Who are you, for your face is perfectly beautiful and brings good tidings?' He replies, ‘I am your good deeds.’…” [Ahmad]

The deceased also benefits from the supplications (for forgiveness) that one supplicates in his favor and giving charity on his behalf, but the prayer in the manner that you mentioned is nothing but an innovation.

Allah Knows best.

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