Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam O` Alaikum,

My question is regarding the Namaz after death. If a person died, can other person can offer his or her Namaz and same thing for Hajj, can other person perform Hajj instead.

I have a very little knowledge about Islam but according to what I think we can only say Maghfirat and good words but we can`t perform Hajj and Namaz for that person who is dead. It would be great if you answer me soon.

Jazak Allah. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can one offer prayers for another

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Prayer and the pilgrimage of Hajj are what is known as ‘fard-ayn’ in Islamic Jurisprudence, meaning that these rites of worship are absolutely obligatory on each individual himself/herself.

As regards to someone who intends or wills to go for the Hajj pilgrimage, but their appointment of death overtakes them before they were able to perform the pilgrimage, there is evidence in the Sunnah that the Messenger of Allah (saws) encouraged the heirs to fulfill their Hajj obligation on their behalf.

Ibn 'Abbas narrates that a woman from the tribe of Johainah came to the Prophet (saws) and said: "My mother had vowed to perform Hajj but she died before fulfilling her vow, should I perform Hajj on her behalf? The Prophet (saws) said: "Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf. Would you not pay off any debts your mother might have left behind upon her death? Pay off what you owe to Allah, for He is most deserving of settlement of His debt."

Related by Bukhari.

The obligatory prayers on the other hand is a duty which the person has to fulfill him/herself, and there is absolutely no evidence in the Sunnah whereby the Messenger of Allah (saws) allowed one to offer the missed prayers of another.

Your Statement: I have a very little knowledge about Islam but according to what I think we can only say Maghfirat and good words but we can`t perform Hajj and Namaz for that person who is dead.

Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (saws) encouraged the believers to supplicate and sincere seek forgiveness for their departed loved ones; for their supplication to their Lord is indeed beneficial for the deceased.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4005 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘When one dies, all his acts come to an end except three, 1. recurring charity, 2. or knowledge (by which people) benefit, and 3. a pious offspring who supplicates for him (the deceased).’

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan