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Does the one who gives charity on behalf of the deceased receive the reward for the charity just as the deceased does?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed regarding one who performs an act of devotion (qurbah) and then dedicates its reward to a deceased person: does the reward go to both the dedicator and the dedicatee, or only to the dedicatee?

It is stated in Matalib Uli an-Nuha: "It is recommended to dedicate acts of devotion, and one should say: 'O Allah, make the reward of this for so-and-so.' Some scholars said: Both the dedicator and the dedicatee are rewarded."

Ibn Qasim said: "If one intends the reward of recitation for the deceased and supplicates, the deceased receives its reward. But does the reciter also receive the reward of their recitation, and the deceased receive a similar reward, or is it only for the deceased? My heart inclines more towards the former."

What appears evident is that the reward goes to the dedicatee, and nothing to the dedicator, because the dedicator willingly gifted that to the deceased. However, the dedicator is rewarded for showing kindness and filial piety to the deceased.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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