Do the deeds that I perform, such as acts of charity, donations, and two rak’ahs for each deceased person, benefit the dead (including my maternal uncle, the imam of the neighborhood mosque, my colleague at work, and my grandparents)? And will I be rewarded for them in my life and after my death, or are the only beneficiaries of these deeds my parents alone? And if the answer is in the negative, what will be the fate of the deeds I performed with that intention?

Scholars have preponderated that whoever performs a righteous deed and dedicates its reward to the deceased, that reward will reach the deceased, and the giver will also benefit from the aspect of piety and kindness towards the deceased. Scholars have agreed that supplicating for the dead and dedicating the reward of financial acts of worship, such as charity, benefits them, and they did not differentiate between a child and others in this regard.

They based their opinion on the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) narration to Amr ibn al-Aas when he wanted to slaughter a sacrificial offering (nadhir) on behalf of his father, al-Aas ibn Wail, where he said: "As for your father, if he had affirmed monotheism, then if you fast on his behalf or give charity on his behalf, that would benefit him."

They answered the misconception that the deceased only benefits from what his child gives him by stating that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not justify the permissibility of a child performing Hajj on behalf of his father based on him being his child. Rather, he likened it to the repayment of a debt, which is permissible from a child or anyone else. They also cited authentic narrations that indicate the permissibility of performing Hajj and fasting on behalf of others, even from non-children, such as the narration of the man who said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Here I am at your service on behalf of Shabramah," and Aisha's narration concerning fasting: "Whoever dies owing fasts, his guardian should fast on his behalf."

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah elaborated on the proofs for this matter, mentioning authentic narrations that confirm the arrival of the reward for charity, fasting, and Hajj to the deceased, whether from a child or anyone else, likening it to the repayment of a debt. He also stated that this does not contradict the Almighty's saying: "{And that there is not for man except that for which he strives}."