Is not raising one's hands and looking to the sky during supplication considered evidence of a lack of closeness to God? And is it permissible to recite the Quran and dedicate its reward to the deceased, and does the recompense reach both the deceased and the reciter in this case?

Raising one's hands during supplication is a recommended Sunnah and one of the means by which supplications are answered. As for looking up to the sky, it has been authentically reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did so. However, not doing so does not indicate a lack of closeness to Allah. The essence lies in the presence of the heart and its turning towards Allah, not in raising the hands or looking up, for Allah does not answer the supplication of a heedless heart. As for dedicating the reward of recitation to the deceased, some jurists have permitted that the reciter may recite, and the reward be for both the reciter and the deceased. We hope that Allah will record the reward for the reciter if he is sincere in his recitation.