Islamic teaching encourages believers to perform good deeds and dedicate their spiritual reward, known as Isal-e-Sawab, to deceased relatives and other Muslims.
A common question is whether dedicating one act to several deceased people gives each the full reward or divides it among them.
Jurists generally recognize that the reward of Quran recitation or voluntary worship may be dedicated to the deceased, but they have expressed two main views about multiple recipients.
Some scholars, including Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Hammad Makki, held that the reward is distributed among the intended recipients.
Most scholars, including Ibn Hajar Makki and Ibn Abidin al-Shami, held that each deceased person receives the full reward separately.
Researchers in Islamic jurisprudence and hadith generally prefer the second view, reasoning that divine mercy is unlimited and can grant a complete reward to every recipient.
Ibn Abidin cited a question put to Ibn Hajar Makki about reciting Surah al-Fatiha for people in graves. Ibn Hajar replied that many jurists supported the view that each receives the full reward.
Scholars also recommend dedicating the reward not only to named relatives but to all believing men and women. They say this does not reduce the worshipper’s own reward.
A hadith narrated by Aisha describes the Prophet dedicating a voluntary sacrifice to himself, his family and his community.
The account in Sahih Muslim 1967 says he invoked God’s name and asked that the sacrifice be accepted on behalf of Muhammad, Muhammad’s family and Muhammad’s community.
Ibn Abidin used this hadith to support dedicating voluntary charity or worship to all believers alongside particular deceased relatives.
Under the majority view, a person who dedicates Quran recitation or another voluntary act to several deceased people may hope that each receives the full reward through divine mercy.
Many people make this dedication after Quran recitation, charity or voluntary worship for parents, grandparents and other relatives.
Scholars favoring the majority position say God’s generosity is not limited by the number of intended recipients.
The recommended intention may name particular relatives while also including all believing men and women.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report