Permissibility-3-10-40 Days
“Bismillahir Rahmannir Raheem”Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen was Salaatu was- Salaamu ‘Alaa Sayidinaa Muhammadin wa Aalihi wa Asabihi Ajma ‘een (tauheed- risalat- ahkirat and islam-iman-ihsan)
Q Is it lawful or not to convey “Sawaab” to the dead on third, tenth, fortieth day after death or after six months or to observe death anniversary?
A. According to our, Ahle Sunnats’, creed the “Sawaab” (reward) of every virtuous deed can be conveyed to the dead persons and there is no doubt in it that conveying of reward of good deeds and worship by the living ones benefit the dead.
The process of the recitation of Holy Quran and charity is begun soon after death in most of Muslim families and continued for long. Therefore, it can not be said that some people consider it impermissible to convey reward to the dead on other days than the determined days.
We do not find any proof within Islamic Sources that forbid the holding a good gathering on the 3rd, 10th or 40th day. Nor is it compulsory to do it on these very days. After all, this is a Mustahab Act, not a compulsory act (which usually has a time limit).
From the prayers for the dead mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadeeth, there is no time limit.
The Holy Prophets, and the Sahaba prayed for all Muslims, no matter when they had died. The Holy Qur’an also commands us likewise for our parents. However, these are scheduled for the following reasons
1. It is easier to remember. If not planned or programmed, it will never be held. Look, the Holy Qur’an commands us to offer prayer, but does not command us to put up notices within our mosques declaring the congregation timings, or to announce the Azaan on loud speakers – but we do that although Muslims are aware of the 5 daily prayers.
2. The Holy Prophet (saws) used to regularly visit the graves of the martyrs of Uhud.
3. The 3rd day probably signifies the end of the permitted mourning period (except for widows). It is also the last day for people to pay condolences. So the last thing to do before the mourning ends would be, of course, to pray for the departed soul.
4. The 10th day means that a week has passed by after the mourning period. It is therefore chosen as a grim reminder.
5. The number 40 occurs in the Qur’an and Hadeeth in many places. It is an important number to indicate change from one state to another. According to some Hadeeth, the fetus in the womb of a mother changes from one state to another every forty days. Holy Prophet Musa (as) was asked by Allah to spend forty nights at mount Sinai (al-Baqarah 2/51). Bani Israil were kept wandering in the wilderness of Sinai for forty years (al-Ma’idah 5/26). Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) was bestowed with revelation from the Holy Qur’an at the age of forty. If 40 Muslims attend a funeral and pray for the deceased’s salvation, their intercession will be accepted by Allah. And there are many other important events in history associated with the number 40. The 40th day also means that a month has passed by since the last grim reminder.
6. The annual day speaks for itself. Another year has passed -even for the person who is alive.
Please note a person may be saddened by the loss of someone near for his entire life – there is nothing forbidden in it – but he may not “mourn” the loss after 3 days (except in case of widows).
We must also remember that
1. These are occasions of solemnity, and not ostentation or show.
2. The purpose should be seeking Allah’s pleasure, of conveying reward to the departed soul, and praying for their salvation.
3. These occasions should serve as reminders of our own deaths and the after life.
4. Giving charity to the needy & deserving, along with such recitations, on behalf of the deceased is commendable.
5. The conveyance of reward not only benefits the deceased but also has immense reward for the doers of the good, and they remind them of the hereafter. The person performing the good deed gets the reward multiplied by the number of people to whom the reward was conveyed!
When I want to talk to allah I say prayers and when I want that he talk to me I recite quran- Hazrath Ali(ra)
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