“So and so has passed away. We are holding a “Duaa” for them on such and such day. Please come and we will make collective Duaa.”Is this allowed?

by Asma bint Shameem

ANSWER

Death of a loved one is never easy and of course it’s a noble deed to make duaa for them.

HOWEVER, there’s no proof from the practice of the Prophet ﷺ that he or his Sahaabah ever got together as an ‘organized’ event to offer duaa collectively after anyone passed away.

When someone amongst them passed away, the Prophet ﷺ and his Sahaabah would bury them then the Prophet ﷺ would encourage them to make duaa for the deceased.

However, they did so INDIVIDUALLY.

And NOT as a group.

🍃 Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan radhi Allaahu anhu said:

“When the Prophet ﷺ had finished burying a deceased person, he would stand over him and say: “Pray for forgiveness for your brother, and ask that he be made steadfast, for he is being questioned now.”

(Abu Dawood - saheeh by al-Albaani)

🍃 Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked about gathering together to make duaa as a group when someone dies.

He said:

“This is not part of the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ or the way of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs (may Allaah be pleased with them), rather the Messenger ﷺ used to tell them to pray for forgiveness for the deceased and ask for him to be made steadfast, INDIVIDUALLY and not together.”

(Fataawa al-Janaa’iz, p. 228)

However, if people are gathered somewhere to offer condolences and they make duaa SPONTANEOUSLY and without ‘pre-planning’ it then there’s nothing wrong with that.

Or they may make duaa individually.

What the Sunnah indicates is that we should make duaa for the deceased ON OUR OWN, and especially at times and places where duaa is more likely to be accepted such as in our salaah, in the middle of the night, at the time of breaking the fast, in between adhaan and iqaamah, when it’s raining, etc.

Also keep in mind that the duaa that’s more likely to be accepted is that which comes from the HEART and it is not really something that ‘others’ can do on your behalf.

So the duaa that YOU will make on YOUR OWN would be more meaningful and sincere.

And since it will come from the heart, it’s more likely to be accepted.

After all, isn’t that the purpose of making duaa for the deceased?

🍃The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“With regard to gathering and making duaa’ for him (the deceased), duaa’ is an act of worship, and acts of worship are based on the principle of tawqeef [i.e., to be based solely on the saheeh texts, with no room for adding or taking away anything].

It is not reported that the Prophet ﷺ made du’aa’ with his companions for any deceased person after he had completed the (funeral) prayer.

It was reported that he used to stand by the grave after the ground had been leveled over its occupant and say, “Pray for forgiveness for your brother, for he is being questioned now.”

From the above we know that the CORRECT thing is NOT to offer a collective duaa’ after offering the funeral prayer, and that this is bid’ah.”

(Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 9/16)

🔺 What if I’m invited to such a gathering? Should I go?

You shouldn’t be going to such gatherings because these kinds of gatherings are not part of the practice of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam or his Sahaabah.

And also going to such gatherings would be encouraging them or condoning the practice, although Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala has commanded us:

“O you who believe!...Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment.”

(Surah al-Maa’idah: 2)

🔺 What can I say to those who invited me?

Just excuse yourself and tell them you are truly sad and sorry for the loss of their loved one, and that you will definitely make duaa for them.

Educate them that it’s not proven from the practice of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam to hold such gatherings of duaa after someone died, so you will not be able to attend this gathering.

But you will definitely be making duaa for them at home INDIVIDUALLY.

This way you would be earning DOUBLE REWARDS!

You would be teaching someone something good and that’s a very noble way to earn rewards AND you would also be earning rewards for making duaa for your fellow Muslim who passed away.

May Allaah enable us to implement the practice of the Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam in ALL aspects of our life.

And Allaah knows best.