Date : 03-04-2018

Question :

What is the ruling on printing the deceased`s name on copies of the Quran and asking people to pray for him/her ?


The Answer :

Praise be to Allah and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his Family and Companions.



Printing copies of the Quran as an endowment entails an abundant reward only known to Almighty Allah, so it is recommended that a Muslim (alive) prints copies of the Quran as an endowment on his behalf and that of others such as his parents since it was reported that the Prophet {PBUH} said: “ A deceased receives the reward, while in the grave, of seven good deeds done on his behalf: knowledge by which people derive benefit, digging a river, drilling a well, planting a palm tree, building a mosque, leaving a Quran by terms of a will and leaving a son who asks for forgiveness on his behalf. “ {Al-Baihakhi, made Hassan by some scholars}.



Supplication is required for the dead and the living alike, but it is more confirmed for the dead as the Prophet{PBUH} used to teach his companions supplicating for the dead. He would stand by the grave and say, "Ask Allah to forgive your brother and supplicate for him for steadfastness because he is being questioned (about his deeds) now” {Al-Baihakhi/”Isbat Azab Al-Khaber” Almighty Allah says: “And those who came after them say: "Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful." { Al-Hashr/10}.



Accordingly, there is no harm in printing copies of the Quran and asking those who read them to make supplication to the deceased. It is also permissible to print the deceased`s name on them, but it is more suitable not to do so and suffice with the supplication in order to avert reputation and pretension. Almighty Allah says: “If ye disclose (acts of) charity, even so it is well, but if ye conceal them, and make them reach those (really) in need, that is best for you: It will remove from you some of your (stains of) evil. And God is well acquainted with what ye do. “ {Al-Baqarah/271}. And Allah knows best.