Fateha and Esaale Sawaab

**shaikh_samee** · 22-03-2011, 11:12 AM

Fateha and Esaale Sawaab

The fourth month of the Islamic calendar is Rabiul-Akhir also known as Rabi al-Thani. May Allah Taala bless all the Muslims with His outward and concealed blessings and excellence. In this very month is the anniversary of the king of Baghdad, Chief of the contented souls, the incomparable, Hazrat Ghausal Azam, Sheikh Mohi-Uddin, Abdul Qadir Jilani Radi Allahu Anh. Muslims throughout the world in this month zealously make arrangements to offer Niyaaz and Fateha of the Saint of Baghdad. Charity is also given in the name of pious saints of Islam as a means of conveying reward to these blessed from which not only the poor and beggars benefit a great deal but the souls of the believers also obtain peace and contentment.

"Essale Sawaab" means conveying the reward of. In this respect there is a hadith reported by Hazrat Anas bin Malik (Radi Allahu Anhu) that he asked the Prophet: "oh Messenger of Allah, when we give charity on behalf of our dead and perform Hajj on their behalf, do they receive the reward of these actions?" The Holy Prophet (Sall Allahu Alaihi wa Sallam) replied: "Without doubt they do receive their rewards. Not only that, but they become very happy, just as any one of you would become happy on receiving gifts."

In a second hadith the Messenger of Allah says: "Anyone who recites Surah Ikhlas 11 times and then conveys its reward to the departed souls, Allah Taala will shower rewards on such a person equal to the number of these souls"

These ahadiths serve as ample proof that the deceased souls do benefit from the good deeds and charities of the living.

Fateha and Esaale Sawaab is permissible in Islam :

1. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) as said: "When a person passes away and the family of the deceased gives Sadaqa, Khayraat and 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, and his neighbour who has not received any Sawaab becomes sad".

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

3. To make Fateha on Niyaz is allowed. If it were not, then the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) would not have made Du'a near the water, but would have said that the intention was sufficient.

4. 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 (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) made Du'a even before any person drank out of the well.

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

6. At the time of Khatam Shareef, there is a flow of mercy and to make Du'a after completing the Quran is Mustahab.

7. When Hazrat Anas (radi Allahu anhu) used to complete the Holy Quran, then he would call all his family and friends and make Du'a. (Jila'ul Afhaam)

8. Hazrat Anas (radi Allahu anhu) asked the Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam): "If we send Sawaab to the deceased, give Sadaqa and Khayraat and ask Du'a for them, does this reach them?" The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Verily it reaches them. Read Salaah for them as you read for yourself and fast for them as you fast for yourself. In other words, make Esaale Sawaab of Salaah and 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 Salaah and keep fast for another person or on his behalf, but we can send the Sawaab of our actions to them.

PROOFS FROM HOLY QUR�AN

Verse 1

And those who came after them say, "O our Lord! Forgive us, and our brothers who accepted faith before us, and do not keep any malice in our hearts towards the believers O our Lord! Indeed You only are the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful." (Surah Hashr 59:10)

Note that the above verse is a very strong evidence of the practice of the Sahaba, which was so loved by Allah that it is part of the Holy Quran. Why would the Sahaba pray for the deceased people if their prayer was of no benefit? And to top it all, Allah the Almighty has approved and praised their action!

Verse 2

"O our Lord! And forgive me, and my parents, and all the Muslims on the day when the account will be established." (Surah Ibrahim 14:41)

The benefit of the above verse is obvious. The prayer of Prophet Syedna Ibrahim (peace be upon him), includes all believers right from the beginning i.e. those before him, and till the end of this world i.e. even those who are not yet born. Al Hamdo Lillah! And this prayer is often made in the last part (Qaadah) of our Salaat.

Verse 3

And those who believe and whose families follow them in Faith, -- to them We shall join their families: nor shall We deprive them of the fruit of anything of their works: yet each individual is in pledge for his deeds. (Surah Toor 52:21).

This verse says that children will be admitted into Paradise because of the righteousness of the parents.

Verse 4

And lower your wing humbly for them, with mercy, and pray, "My Lord! Have mercy on them both, the way they nursed me when I was young." (Surah Bani Israel 17:24)

This verse is in fact a command from Allah for all believers to seek mercy for their parents. So what is your opinion? Will not the command of Allah hold any benefit for the deceased parent?? It certainly does.

Also note that there are several other verses from the Holy Quran that teach us to pray, and the prayer includes all Muslim brothers & sisters (living, passed away or yet to be borne).

Readers are requested to reflect on the fact that the above verses are part of the Holy Quran they are read perhaps millions of times every day all over the world, as part of regular recitation, and also as Qirat within Salaat, and also as prayer in the last part (Qaadah) of Salaat.

PROOFS FROM THE HADEETH

Hadeeth 1

Abu Huraira (Allah be well pleased with him) reported Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son, who prays for him (for the deceased). (Muslim)

Hadeeth 2
The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)said, "What is credited to a believer of his action and good deed after his death is any useful knowledge he might have taught or spread, a Allah-fearing child he might have left behind, a copy of the Qur'an he might have left to an heir, a mosque he might have built, a house he might have dedicated for use by travelers, a stream or river he might have caused to run, a donation to charity (i.e. sadaqah) he might have set aside when he was enjoying good health. All that catches up with him after his death." (Ibn Majah)

Hadeeth 3

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that a dark-complexioned woman (or a youth) used to sweep the mosque. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) missed her (or him) and inquired about her (or him). The people told him that she (or he) had died. He asked why they did not inform him, and it appears as if they had treated her (or him) or her (or his) affairs as of little account. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Lead me to her (or his) grave. They led him to that place and he said prayer over her (or him) and then remarked: Verily, these graves are full of darkness for their dwellers. Verily, the Mighty and Glorious Allah illuminates them for their occupants by reason of my prayer over them. (Muslim, Bukhari, Mishkaat)

Hadeeth 4

"A woman came to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said, 'I have given charity on behalf of my dead mother by giving away her female servant.' The Holy Prophet answered, 'You will have its reward [and so will she] but return the female servant so that the inheritance [may be properly divided].' The woman then said, 'She used to owe fasts, can I fast on her behalf?' He answered, 'You may fast on her behalf.' The woman then said, 'She did not perform Hajj, can I perform on her behalf?' The Holy Prophet answered, 'Yes. You may perform Hajj on her behalf." (Tirmizi)

Hadeeth 5

Narrated Ibn `Abbas (Allah be well pleased with him): The mother of Sa`d bin 'Ubada died in his absence. He said, "O Allah's Apostle! My mother died in my absence; will it be of any benefit for her if I give Sadaqah on her behalf?" The Prophet said, "Yes," Sa`d said, "I make you a witness that I gave my garden called Al Makhraf in charity on her behalf." (Bukhari)

Hadeeth 6

Narrated Abdullah Bin Umar (Allah be well pleased with him) that our beloved Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said, "that if anyone dies amongst you then do not keep it, send it towards the Kabr, and after burying it, Stand before its head side and recite the first Ruku of "Surah Bakarah", i.e. from Alif Laam Meem Zaalikal Kitaab to Humul Muflihoon; and recite by it's feet side the last Ruku of "Surah Bakarah", i.e. From Aamanar rasoolu till the end of the Surah, Fansurna alal qumil kaafireen. (Mishkaat).

Hadeeth 7

The Holy Prophet said: "Recite Ya Seen [Qur'an 36] over your dead." (Abu Daud, Nasai, Ibn Majah)

Hadeeth 8

Abu Huraira (Allah be well pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying that Allah has mobile squads of angels, who have no other work (to attend to) but to follow the assemblies of Zikr and when they find such assemblies in which there is Zikr (of Allah) they sit in them and some of them surround the others with their wings till the space between them and the sky of the world is fully covered, and when they disperse (after the assembly of Zikr is adjourned) they go upward to the heaven and Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, asks them although He is best informed about them: Where have you come from? They say: We come from Your servants upon the earth who had been glorifying You (reciting Subhan Allah), uttering Your Greatness (saying Allah o-Akbar) and uttering Your Oneness (La ilaha ill Allah) and praising You (uttering al-Hamdu Lillah) and begging of You. He would say: What do they beg of Me? They would say: They beg of You the Your Paradise. He (Allah) would say: Have they seen My Paradise? They said: No, our Lord. He would say: (What it would be then) if they were to see My Paradise? They (the angels) said: They seek Your protection. He (Allah) would say: Against what do they seek My protection? They (the angels) would say: Our Lord, from the Hell-Fire. He (Allah) would say: Have they seen My Fire? They would say: No. He (Allah) would say: What it would be if they were to see My Fire? They would say: They beg of You forgiveness. He would say: I grant pardon to them, and confer upon them what they ask for and grant them protection against which they seek protection. They (the angels) would again say: Our Lord, there is one amongst them such and such simple servant who happened to pass by (that assembly) and sat there along with them (who had been participating in that assembly). He (Allah) would say: I also grant him pardon, for they are a people the seat-fellows of whom are in no way unfortunate (Muslim, Bukhari, Tirmizi, and Nasa'i)

Hadeeth 9
Reported Abu Huraira (Allah be well pleased with him), that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, 'When you pray for a dead man, make your prayer sincere for him' (Abu Daud, Ibn Majah)

Muhammad Sameer