Darulifta Ahlesunnat
(Dawateislami)
Question
What do the respected scholars of Islam say about the following matter: Do a person’s deceased parents know what good and bad deeds their children are doing?
بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
Yes, news of whatever a person is doing reaches his deceased parents. They become happy at their children's good deeds and sad at their bad deeds.
It has been mentioned in the Hadith that a person’s deeds are presented to his parents. Regarding this, it has been mentioned in Al-Jami’ Al-Sagheer:
تعرض الأعمال یوم الأثنین والخمیس علی ﷲ وتعرض علی الأنبیاء وعلی الآباء والأمهات یوم الجمعۃ فیفرحون بحسناتهم وتزداد وجوههم بیاضاً وإشراقاً فاتقوا ﷲ ولاتؤذوا موتاکم
Translation: On Monday and Thursday, a person’s deeds are presented to Allah عزوجل, and they are presented to the prophets عليهم السلام, their fathers and mothers on Friday. They become happy at their good deeds and their faces become enlightened and illuminated, so fear Allah and don’t trouble your deceased ones.
(Al-Jami’ al-Sagheer, Vol. 1, Pg. 199, Hadith No .3316, DKI, Beirut)
While explaining deceased parent’s rights over their children after their passing, Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah, Imam Ahmad Raza Khanرحمة الله عليه states:
سب میں سخت تر وعام تر ومدام تریہ حق ہے کہ کبھی کوئی گناہ کرکے انہیں قبرمیں ایذا نہ پہنچانا، اس کے سب اعمال کی خبرماں باپ کوپہنچتی ہے، نیکیاں دیکھتے ہیں، توخوش ہوتے ہیں اور ان کاچہرہ فرحت سے چمکتا اوردمکتاہے، اور گناہ دیکھتے ہیں تو رنجیدہ ہوتے ہیں اور ان کے قلب پرصدمہ ہوتاہے، ماں باپ کایہ حق نہیں کہ انہیں قبرمیں بھی رنج پہنچائے
Translation: The most severe, the most common, and the most permanent right is that one does not trouble them in their graves by committing sins. They receive news of all their (child’s) deeds. When they see good deeds, they become happy, and their faces start shining and glowing due to happiness. And when they see bad deeds, they become sad, and they feel pain in their hearts. It is not the right of parents that one gives them pain even in their graves.(Fatawa Razawiyah, Vol. 24, Pg. 392, Raza Foundation, Lahore)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)
Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari
Ref No: FAM-373
Date: 29th Shawwal 1445 AH/ 8th May 2024