Essale Sawaab-Ibn Taymiyyah
“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)
ESSALE SAWAAB 3
Hafidhh Ibn Taymiyyah
writes: From the authentic Hadith, there is evidence pointing out that the
deceased person will gain rewards from all the good deeds carried out on
his/her behalf by others. Some people raise the objection that a person can
only gain reward from their own actions, and refer to the Qur’an [for
evidence]. This is not correct. Firstly, because a Muslim recieves the reward
of those deeds that he /she has never done themselves [for example]: like Allah
says in the Qur’an that the Angels of the Throne of Allah, glorify Allah and
ask for forgiveness on behalf of all the Muslims. It is also evident from the
Qur’an: [that] Allah (The Almighty) ordered Prophet Muhammad [Saws] to pray for
his Ummah, since his du’a is the peace of mind for the Ummah. In the same way the
d’ua is offered in the funeral prayer, also when visiting the grave and
offering d’ua for the deceased.
Secondly, we know that Allah (Almighty.) rewards us through the deeds of other
people, which are carried out on our behalf. An example is where the Prophet
Muhammad [Saws] said “Whenever a Muslim prays for other Muslims, Allah
(Almighty.) appoints an Angel to say Amin”, i.e., the angel asks Allah
(Almighty.) for the acceptance of the prayer. Sometimes Allah (Almighty.)
blesses the participants of the funeral prayer in response to the prayer from
the deceased and vice versa. (Mujmua Al-Fatawa vol:7, page 500 & vol:24,
page 367) Published by Hafidhh Ibn-e-Taymiyyah in Saudi Arabia
Hafidhh Ibn Qayyam writes:-“If a Muslim recites Qur’an, performs Hajj, offers
du’a, gives in charity on the behalf of the deceased, then the deceased gets
the benefits of it. Some innovators say that the deceased do not get any such
reward, which is wrong according to the authentic Hadith. The proof is in the
Qur’an that Allah (Almighty.) has praised those who ask for forgiveness for
their Muslim brothers. Authentic Hadith proves that Prophet Muhammad [Saws]
replied to a question saying that to offer alms on behalf of a deceased person
earns benefit. Some individuals suspect that the earlier Muslims did not do
Esal-e-Sawab. This is because of their own ignorance or lack of knowledge. The
earlier Muslims did not do these to show off. The Prophet Muhammad [Saws]
himself gave permission to offer Alms, so it is right to say that Esal-e-Sawab
is right. The ayah in the Qur’an which states that only the own deeds are
rewarded, means that he is righteous to get rewarded, which means that he is
righteous to receive reward, but a present from someone else is also rewarded
to the deceased by Allah (Almighty.).
(Kitab-ur-Rooh; by Hafidhh Ibn-ul-Qayyam Chapter 16)
Qadi Shawkani writes:According to the Sunni faith, a deceased receives rewards
from others praying, performing Hajj, offering Alms, but the “Mutazala” refuse
to accept this. if it is wrong to offer these to the deceased, then Islam would
not have allowed us to say “Salaam” (peace be to you) to the deceased when
visiting or entering the graveyards. (Nal-Al-Autar, chapter: Janaiz by Qadi
Shawkani).
As for
the reward of Du’aa (which is separate from the above), there is also unanimity
of the scholars in its reward reaching and benefiting the deceased. ( al-Azkaar
of Imaam Nawawi)
Allama Qurtubi (Ra) states, ‘Just as the reward of charitable deeds benefit the
deceased, similarly, the recitation of the Qur’an al kareem, Du’aa and
Isghtifaar also do the same, because all of these are regarded as Sadaqah
(charity) in Shari’ah.’ (al-Tazkirah pg.71)
He, thereafter, mentioned 2 narrations recorded in Sahih Muslim which prove
that even Salaat and Dhikr of Allah were
all classified as Sadaqah by Rasulullah (saws).
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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