Reciting Qur’an for the Deceased

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: On a previous answer it said to recite surah Ya Sin at the deceased grave. Is that for the person in the state of being buried or for all times of visiting the grave? Also can you recite other surahs as well.

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

It is permitted to recite anything of the Qur’an whenever one visits the grave of the deceased.

However, reciting Yasin is specifically recommended as it is related from the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) that he said, “Recite Yasin upon your dead.” [Musnad Ahmad]

There is a difference of opinion with regards to the meaning of this and its corroborating narrations. Some mention that it means to recite it to the person who is on his death bed. Others state that it refers to reciting it after they have died. [Ibn Hajar, al-Talkhis al-Habir]

In closing, Imam `Abdullah al-Haddad states in his Sabil al-Iddikar wa al-`Itibar that the most beneficial thing to donate to the dead is the recitation of Surah al-Ikhlas eleven times. He continues, “and this has been seen in many blessed dreams.”

See also: Donating Reward to the Dead: A Detailed Answer

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani