THE EYES HAVE been closed. The body washed and shrouded. The janaza is complete. The funeral procession led us to where we will all go one day- the grave. The return to earth. The dua.
The deceased has started a new journey. Whilst we returned home.
If the departed could talk to us, what would they say? What would they ask for? Certainly not the things of this world. Rather, only good deeds. The only currency in the Hereafter is deeds.
So, for those who are left behind, this is what we can do to increase their good deeds and diminish their sins.
1. Dua
The one in the grave can no longer make dua for himself. But we can.
The Messenger ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah Almighty will raise the status of his righteous servants in Paradise and they will say: ‘O Lord, what is this?’ Allah will say: ‘This is due to your child seeking forgiveness for you.’” (Ahmad)
The best du’as for the deceased are the dua for forgiveness, as they wipe away the sins and cause elevation:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ
“O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and give him strength and pardon him. Be generous to him and cause his entrance to be wide and wash him with water and snow and hail. Cleanse him of his transgressions as white cloth is cleansed of stains.” (Hisn al Muslim)
اللَّهمَّ عَبْدُكَ وَابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، اِحْتَاجَ إِلَى رَحْمَتِكَ، وَأَنْتَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْ عَذَابِهِ، إِنْ كَانَ مُحْسِنا ً فَزِدْ فِي حَسَنَاتِه، وَإِنْ كَانَ مُسِيْئا ً فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ
‘O Allah, this son of a servant of yours is now in need of Your mercy, and You do not need to punish that person. If he was pious, then increase his rewards, and if he was a transgressor, then pardon him.” (al Hakim)
2. Restoring the rights of men
Allah does not forgive the harm done to others or debts unpaid. Rather, no injustice is done, and these wrongs are settled by either taking away from one’s good deeds or adding the evil deeds of others.
The Messenger ﷺ said: ‘Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon, as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should be forgiven) before some of his good deeds are taken and paid to his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken to be added on him (in the Hereafter).’ (Bukhari)
The Messenger ﷺ said: “Whoever dies owing a Dinar or a Dirham, it will be paid back from his good deeds because then there will be no Dinar or Dirham.” (Ibn Majah)
So, if there are debts, then these need to be cleared. If someone has been harmed in any way by the deceased, then go to them and ask them to forgive the deceased.
3. Fulfilling the rights of Allah ﷻ
Hajj, especially in our Asian communities, is often left as late as possible. Yet it is a debt that is left to Allah ﷻ and is one that can be fulfilled by the living.
Similarly, the fard fasts that were not completed due to travel or illness and were not made up can be completed on behalf of the deceased.
Unpaid zakat also needs to be fulfilled.
4. Good deeds
There are many good deeds mentioned in the sunnah which will help the deceased.
The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘When a human being dies, all of his deeds are terminated except for three types: an ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah), a knowledge (of Islam) from which others benefit, and a righteous child who makes du’a for him.” (Muslim)
A man said to the Prophet ﷺ, “My mother died suddenly, and I think that if she could speak, she would have given in charity. May I give in charity on her behalf?” He said, “Yes! Give in charity on her behalf.” (Bukhari)
“When the Prophet ﷺ was given something, he used to say, ‘Take it to so-and-so. She was a friend of Khadija’s. Take it to the house of so-and-so. She loved Khadija.” (al Adab al Mufrad)
For every good that the deceased inspired us to do, they get a share of the reward. Similarly, sadaqa jariyah is a charity that keeps giving. The benefits of all these the departed will see if Allah wills.
A promise of hope and reunion for the patient ones
جَنَّـٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍۢ
سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ
‘Gardens of Eden; they will enter them with whoever was righteous among their forefathers, their spouses, and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate, [saying], “Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.’ (ar Rad 23-24)
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