Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Darulifta-Deoband.com » Is Fatiha for Isal-e-Sawab part of Salaf or bida’h? Does not reciting it affect one’s fate?

Is Fatiha for Isal-e-Sawab part of Salaf or bida’h? Does not reciting it affect one’s fate?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Darulifta-Deoband.com
I live in a locality which is dominated with Barailvis and hence, their customs and beliefs are very common. I wanted to know if the concept of Fatiha (reciting the Holy Quran for the Isal-e-Sawab of deceased) is a practice of Salaf or a bida’h. The Barailvis say that people who don’t recite Fatiha are deviant and disbelievers. Is it true? In my masjid Fatiha is done after the Fajr and Asr salah. And Fatiha is also given by placing food items before the one reciting it. Even in my family it is observed. Is this correct? And if it is a good deed then what is the correct and appropriate manner? And what part of the Holy Quran should be recited to do so?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

(Fatwa: 1100/1082/L=09/1436)

There is no harm to read the Holy Quran and send its reward to the deceased person in itself. As per the majority of Ulama the deceased ones receive the reward of the holy Quran.
اختلف فی وصول ثواب القراءة للميت جمهورالسلف والأئمة الثلاثة على الوصول وخالف فى ذلك امامنا الشافعى رحمه الله (شرح الصدور: 302)
However, it should be done individually. The relatives and near ones of the deceased should recite the holy Quran personally and send its rewards to their deceased ones. It is not proved to read Fatiha in special manner and consider it necessary after Fajr and Asr salah. It is also ignorance and deviation to impose a disproved thing on each one and term those who are not reading it as deviant and even disbelievers.

Note: There is no proof of reading Fatiha keeping the food in front.

Allah knows Best!

Darul Ifta,
Darul Uloom Deoband

This answer was collected from the official ifta website of Darul Uloom Deoband in India.

Read answers with similar topics: