Is it true that the souls of the deceased return to their homes on Thursdays demanding Isāl-e-Thawāb?

Someone said that souls come to visit their homes on Thursdays and demand Eesaal e Sawab from their family members. He said the Hadtih concerning this is in Tabarani.

If this is true then what would you recommend us to perform for their esaal sawab؟

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We were unable to locate the specific hadith you refer to in any reliable source.[1] Nevertheless, it is permissible to pass on reward to the deceased (isāl-e-thawāb) whether it be a charitable deed or the recitation of the Qurān. This is not restricted to any specific time. Consider the following:

عن أبى هريرة أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة إلا من صدقة جارية أو علم ينتفع به أو ولد صالح يدعو له

“When man dies, his actions come to an end except three, the rewards of which keep accruing even after his death: charity that has recurring benefits, knowledge from which people continue to benefit, and pious children who supplicate on behalf of their deceased parents”[2]

أَنَّ سَعْدَ بْنَ عُبَادَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ تُوُفِّيَتْ أُمُّهُ وَهُوَ غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، فَقَالَ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ أُمِّي تُوُفِّيَتْ وَأَنَا غَائِبٌ عَنْهَا، أَيَنْفَعُهَا شَيْءٌ إِنْ تَصَدَّقْتُ بِهِ عَنْهَا؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ»

Sa’d ibn Ubādah (Allāh be pleased with him) absent when his mother had passed away. When he returned, he asked the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings be upon him), ‘Will it be of any benefit if I give charity on her behalf?’ the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings be upon him) replied in the affirmative.[3]

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ اللَّجْلَاجِ قَالَ: «قَالَ لِي أَبِي: يَا بُنَيَّ، إِذَا مِتُّ فَالْحَدْ لِي لَحْدًا، فَإِذَا وَضَعْتَنِي فِي لَحْدِي فَقُلْ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، ثُمَّ شَنِّ التُّرَابَ عَلِيَّ شَنًّا، ثُمَّ اقْرَأْ عِنْدَ رَأْسِي بِفَاتِحَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ وَخَاتِمَتِهَا، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ ذَلِكَ

Lajlāj (Allāh be pleased with him) had bequeathed his son that after he leaves this world, he should recite the beginning and end of Surat al-Baqarah at the head side of his grave. Lajlāj (Allāh be pleased with him) then mentioned that he heard this from the Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings be upon him).[4]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Muntasir Zaman  

Student Darul Iftaa
USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.