Will the reward for the charity I intend, on behalf of myself, my husband, my children, my mother, my father, my household, and all Muslim men and women, be like the reward of all those on whose behalf I intended it, or will this reward be divided among us, leaving me with a small portion?

The basic principle is that no one shares in the reward of the obedient, just as the punishment of the disobedient is upon them. However, Islamic law has made exceptions to this, including the sharing of the reward of the sacrifice (Udhiyah) among the members of a single household, and the dedication of the reward of acts of worship to the deceased. As for dedicating the reward to the living, there is no explicit text regarding it. Therefore, scholars have differed on its permissibility and the reception of the reward. Hanbali jurists have affirmed that any act of worship performed and its reward dedicated to a living or deceased person will benefit them. Nevertheless, we advise working for oneself and retaining the reward, as there is a need for increasing good deeds.