FATIHA & ESAAL-E-SAWAAB

All the Ulama-e-Haq & the Scholars hold the belief that to send Esaale Sawaab to the souls of the deceased is permissible. It is permissible for a Muslim to send the Sawaab of his deeds, such a Salaat, Saum, Zakaat, Hajj, Sadaqa, etc. to others. (Hidaya) If a person kept Fast, performed his or her Salaah, or gave Sadaqa & then sent this Sawaab to another person, either living or deceased, then to do so is permissible & that Sawaab reaches the said person. (Bahrur Raa'iq)

Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) asked the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam): "If we send Sawaab to the deceased, give Sadaqa & Khayraat & ask Du'a for them, does this reach them?" The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Verily it reaches them. Read Salaah for them as you read for yourself & fast for them as you fast for yourself. In other words, make Esaal-e-Sawaab of Salaah & Saum for them." The meaning of this Hadith Shareef is that we should send the Sawaab of our actions to the deceased, since in reality one cannot perform Salaat & keep fast for another person or on his behalf, but we can send the Sawaab of our actions to them.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) has stated: "On the Days of Eid, the 10th of Muharram, the first Friday of Rajab, on Shabb-e-Baraat & on Thursday nights, the souls of the deceased are left free to go to their homes, wherein they go & ask for Sadaqa & Khayraat. If they do not receive any Du'a or Fatiha, then they return to their graves saddened & disappointed & they say, "O Allah! They have deprived us, You deprive them'".

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) as said: "When a person passes away & the family of the deceased gives Sadaqa, Khayraat & makes Du'a for him, then Sayyiduna Jibraeel (alaihis salaam) takes it to them in their graves on a tray that is beautifully decorated. When they receive this, they become so pleased as if someone in the world becomes pleased on receiving a gift & his neighbour who has not received any Sawaab becomes sad".

Sayyiduna Sa'ad ibn Ubaadah (radi Allahu anhu) once came to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) & said: "Ya Rasool allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! My mother has passed away. What can I do for Esaale Sawaab?" The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Prepare a well for water". When the well was prepared, Rasoolullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) went close to the well & made Du'a: "This is for the Esaale Sawaab for the mother of Saad". While making this Du'a, he raised his hands high & after Du'a, he turned his hands over his blessed face.

For those who object to Fatiha & Du'a, the following is for their perusal:

1. It is allowed to make Du'a in front of the Niyaz (offering), as this is what the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) did by coming close to the well to make Du'a.
2. It is allowed to lift up the hands for Du'a & to end the Du'a by turning the hands over the face.
3. It is preferable to call a pious person to make the Du'a.
4. To make Fatiha on Niyaz is allowed. If it were not, then the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would not have made Du'a near the water, but would have said that the intention was sufficient.
5. For the person to obtain the Sawaab, it is not necessary to feed the Niyaz first, but Du'a can be made before this since the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) made Du'a even before any person drank out of the well.

Whosoever makes Khatam of the Holy Quran & then makes Du'a, 4,000 Angels say Aameen on his Du'a. They then continue making Du'a for him & they continue asking blessings for him until the morning or afternoon. (Tafseer Rooh-ul-Bayaan)

At the time of Khatam Shareef, there is a flow of mercy & to make Du'a after completing the Quran is Mustahab. When Sayyiduna Anas (radi Allahu anhu) used to complete the Holy Quran, then he would call all his family & friends & make Du'a. (Jila'-ul-Afhaam) When making Fatiha, one should follow the proceedure of the pious Saints. When making the Fatiha, send the Sawaab to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), the pious servants, the Companions, & then through their blessing, ask for it to be sent to the soul of the deceased. This is the prescribed method & this is the method that the Ahle Sunnat has always followed.

By making Esaal-e-Sawaab, it gives comfort to the deceased, pleases them, saves them from the torment of the grave, elevates their status & causes benefit to the sender as well as the receiver.