‘Ali ibn al-Haytham al-Bazzar (13), our trusted and reliable shaykh, said: I saw Ahmad ibn Hanbal praying behind a blind man who was reciting at the graves. It has been narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said: "Whoever enters the graveyards and recites Surah Yasin, the punishment is lightened for them on that day, and he will have rewards equal to the number of those therein" (14). And it was narrated from him (peace be upon him): "Whoever visits the grave of his parents [or one of them] (15), and recites Yasin near it or near them, he will be forgiven" (16).
Section: Any act of worship one performs and assigns its reward to a deceased Muslim, he will benefit from that, God willing. As for supplication (du’a), seeking forgiveness (istighfar), charity (sadaqah), and the performance of obligatory duties (wajib), I know of no disagreement regarding them, provided the obligatory duties are among those where substitution is permitted. Allah the Almighty said: {And those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who preceded us in faith"} (17). And Allah the Almighty said: {And ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women} (18). The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) supplicated for Abu Salamah when he died (19), for the deceased over whom he prayed in the hadith of ‘Awf ibn Malik (20), and for every deceased person over whom he prayed (21). [And for Dhu al-Bijadayn until he buried him (22). And Allah legislated that for everyone who prays over a deceased person] (23). A man asked the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and said: O Messenger of Allah, my
(13) In the original: "al-Bazzaz". See his biography in Tabaqat al-Hanabilah 1/140. (14) We did not find this hadith, and there is a note in the margin of [M] indicating that it is weak, without stating the source of this judgment. (15) Omitted from: [A], [M]. (16) Extracted by Ibn ‘Adi on the authority of Abu Bakr. Al-Kamil fi Du’afa’ al-Rijal 5/180. See: Al-Fath al-Kabir by Al-Nabhani 3/195. (17) Surah Al-Hashr, 10. (18) Surah Muhammad, 19. (19) Its source was previously cited on page 365. (20) Its source was previously cited on page 414. (21) See what was previously stated on pages 413, 414. (22) Its source was previously cited on page 503. (23) Omitted from: [M].
