Is It Permissible to Give a Charity on Behalf of a Dead Person?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question: Assalamu alaykum

Is it permissible to give sadaqa jariya (a charity of ongoing benefit) on behalf of a dead person? Does the living person who gave it also get the reward of it?

Answer:  Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

One can donate reward for good deeds, including giving charity of ongoing benefit (sadaqa jariya), on behalf of both the living and the dead, across the major schoolars of Islamic law.

Effectively, this is akin to making supplication (dua) to Allah for good for them, through good deeds—and it has extensive basis in the teachings of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

See the following answer for details:

Donating Reward to the Dead: A Detailed Answer

And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance Global After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersGuidance Global to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He has been repeatedly listed as one of the world’s 500 most influential Muslims (The Muslim500).