Esal e swab for Parents:
Authentic hadith concerning ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, the dua of a righteous child, charity on behalf of deceased parents, fasting and Hajj performed in the circumstances established by the Sunnah.
What Is Esal-e-Sawab?
Understanding how good deeds may continue benefiting deceased parents.
Esal-e-Sawab, also written as Isal-e-Sawab, generally refers to seeking reward and benefit for a deceased Muslim through permissible good deeds.
The clearest examples established in authentic hadith include making dua, giving ongoing charity, leaving beneficial knowledge and giving charity on behalf of a deceased person.
This page presents the relevant narrations with their Arabic wording, English and Urdu meaning, grading and source links. A weaker narration is also included but is clearly identified as weak.
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Three Deeds That Continue After Death
The authentic narration reported by Abu Hurairah رضی اللہ عنہ.
Ongoing Charity, Beneficial Knowledge and Dua
Sahihإِذَا مَاتَ الْإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْيَاءَ: صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: When a person dies, their deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people continue to benefit, or a righteous child who makes dua for them.
جب انسان فوت ہو جاتا ہے تو اس کے اعمال کا سلسلہ منقطع ہو جاتا ہے، سوائے تین چیزوں کے: صدقہ جاریہ، ایسا علم جس سے فائدہ اٹھایا جائے، اور نیک اولاد جو اس کے لیے دعا کرے۔
Sadaqah Jariyah
An ongoing charity that continues providing benefit, such as a sustainable water, education or community project.
Beneficial Knowledge
Knowledge taught, written or shared by a person that continues guiding and benefiting people after their death.
A Righteous Child’s Dua
A righteous son or daughter continues remembering the deceased parent and sincerely praying for their forgiveness and mercy.
Giving Charity on Behalf of Deceased Parents
A direct permission reported in Sahih al-Bukhari.
Charity on Behalf of a Deceased Mother
Sahih al-Bukhariإِنَّ أُمِّي افْتُلِتَتْ نَفْسُهَا، وَأُرَاهَا لَوْ تَكَلَّمَتْ تَصَدَّقَتْ، أَفَأَتَصَدَّقُ عَنْهَا؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، عَنْهَا
A man told the Prophet ﷺ that his mother had died suddenly and that he believed she would have given charity if she had been able to speak. He asked whether he could give charity on her behalf. The Prophet ﷺ answered that he could give charity on her behalf.
A Clear Form of Esal-e-Sawab
This narration provides direct evidence that a person may give charity on behalf of a deceased parent. The intention should be sincere and the charity should be given through a lawful and trustworthy means.
Other Deeds Mentioned in a Narration
Sunan Ibn Majah 242, clearly identified with its reported grading.
Deeds Whose Benefit May Continue After Death
Da‘if — Darussalamإِنَّ مِمَّا يَلْحَقُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَحَسَنَاتِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ: عِلْمًا عَلَّمَهُ وَنَشَرَهُ، وَوَلَدًا صَالِحًا تَرَكَهُ، وَمُصْحَفًا وَرَّثَهُ، أَوْ مَسْجِدًا بَنَاهُ، أَوْ بَيْتًا لِابْنِ السَّبِيلِ بَنَاهُ، أَوْ نَهْرًا أَجْرَاهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فِي صِحَّتِهِ وَحَيَاتِهِ، يَلْحَقُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهِ
The narration mentions knowledge that a believer taught and spread, a righteous child, a copy of the Quran left as a legacy, a mosque, accommodation for travellers, a canal and charity given during the person’s lifetime as deeds whose benefit may continue after death.
اس روایت میں فائدہ مند علم، نیک اولاد، وراثت میں چھوڑا ہوا قرآن، تعمیر کی گئی مسجد، مسافروں کے لیے بنایا ہوا گھر، جاری کیا ہوا پانی اور زندگی میں دیا گیا صدقہ ان اعمال میں شمار کیے گئے ہیں جن کا فائدہ وفات کے بعد بھی پہنچ سکتا ہے۔
Hadith Grading Note
This narration is graded Da‘if in the Darussalam grading displayed with Sunan Ibn Majah 242. It should therefore be clearly distinguished from the authentic narration about ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and the dua of a righteous child.
Fasting and Hajj on Behalf of Deceased Parents
Authentic narrations concerning unfulfilled fasting and Hajj obligations.
Fasting Owed by the Deceased
Bukhari 1952مَنْ مَاتَ وَعَلَيْهِ صِيَامٌ صَامَ عَنْهُ وَلِيُّهُ
Aisha رضی اللہ عنہا reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said that when a person dies while owing fasting, the deceased person’s wali or close relative may fast on their behalf.
Hajj on Behalf of a Deceased Mother
Bukhari 1852نَعَمْ، حُجِّي عَنْهَا، أَرَأَيْتِ لَوْ كَانَ عَلَى أُمِّكِ دَيْنٌ أَكُنْتِ قَاضِيَتَهُ؟ اقْضُوا اللَّهَ، فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ بِالْوَفَاءِ
A woman said that her mother had vowed to perform Hajj but died before completing it. The Prophet ﷺ instructed her to perform Hajj on her mother’s behalf and compared the obligation to a debt that should be fulfilled.
Personal Circumstances Can Differ
These narrations concern specific outstanding obligations. The ruling may depend on the type of fast, whether Hajj had become obligatory, whether there was a vow and other circumstances. A qualified scholar should be consulted for an individual case.
Practical Ways to Benefit Deceased Parents
Simple actions supported by the authentic narrations presented above.
Make Dua for Them
Regularly ask Allah to forgive your parents, have mercy upon them, raise their rank and grant them peace in the Hereafter.
Give Charity on Their Behalf
Give food, water, financial assistance or another lawful form of charity and intend its reward for your deceased parent.
Support Lasting Benefit
Contribute to beneficial education, water access or another trustworthy project that may continue helping people over time.
Hadith Reference Images
Original images associated with this article.
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