From serving a simple bowl of rice to printing prayer booklets, small deeds done in a loved one’s name ripple into the hereafter — here’s a practical list to get started.
The best charities for the dead include supplication (duʿā) and seeking forgiveness (istighfār), recitation of the Qurʾān, and holding religious ceremonies. These deeds not only bring comfort and peace to the souls of the deceased but also bestow abundant blessings on the survivors.
Charity for the dead, in addition to aiding their souls, steers the living toward accumulating reward and obtaining divine favor. Based on hadiths, Qurʾānic verses, and scholars' opinions, the most recommended charities for the deceased include supplication and seeking forgiveness, Qurʾān recitation, and organizing religious gatherings.
Prayers (duʿā) and asking forgiveness on behalf of the deceased hold a special place in Muslim devotional culture and are considered among the best remembrances for those who have passed away. Narrations and the practice of the pious support this act. For example, in a report attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Every charity given on behalf of a deceased is taken by an angel like a dish of light and brought to the grave, and the angel says, 'Peace be upon you, O people of the graves; this gift has been sent to you by your family.' Then the deceased receives this gift into his grave, which expands and comforts him."
Charity produces both worldly and otherworldly effects. It can sometimes remove great hardships from a person's life. Whoever performs acts of charity on behalf of the deceased will find that charitable steps are taken for him as well. Numerous narrations indicate that if someone gives charity for their predecessors, God will remove afflictions from their life and bestow mercy and favor upon them.
Although a person's deeds are primarily provisions for their own afterlife, religious reports suggest that the connection between the deceased and the world is not completely severed after death, and the book of deeds in the barzakh (intermediate realm) remains open. Thus, the deceased benefit from the rewards of charities dedicated to them. Such deeds can increase reward and lessen punishment in the barzakh.
In a hadith attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "The souls of the believers come down every Friday to the world before their houses and call out in a mournful voice: 'O our families, O our children, O our fathers and mothers and kin! Be merciful to us; from the property that was with us (and is now with you) give a dirham or a piece of bread and a garment for our sake, so that God may clothe you with the garments of Paradise!'" (Al-Mustadrak al‑Wasāʾil, vol. 2, p. 484, hadith 24).
Therefore, it is fitting to keep the memory of the deceased alive by offering the Fātiḥah (opening chapter of the Qurʾān) and asking forgiveness on their behalf, and by distributing commemorative gifts—these are among the best charities for the dead.
Furthermore, the reward of these charitable acts also benefits the one who prays. In a hadith attributed to Imam Riḍā (ʿa) it is recorded: "Whoever visits the grave of a believer and recites seven times 'Inna anzalnāhu' (Surah 78:1) there, God will forgive him along with the owner of the grave." (Biḥār al‑Anwār, vol. 82, p. 169).
Many inexpensive acts can serve as the best commemorations for the dead. Remember that the material value of an act does not determine its reward; the intention behind it is paramount. For example, dedicating the reward of feeding birds, buying from struggling street vendors, or performing charitable acts in mosques and through charities are commendable and bring great benefit.
At the same time, more resource‑intensive deeds—such as freeing prisoners, sponsoring an orphan's care, or purchasing a dowry for a poor bride—are excellent choices that individuals can undertake according to their means and that will bring joy to the departed in the barzakh.
The Qurʾān does not explicitly list a single 'best' charity for the dead, but from the totality of verses, hadiths, and scholarly statements we infer that remembrance and asking forgiveness for the dead are highly commendable. These acts may take the form of charity (ṣadaqah), Qurʾān recitation, fasting, and prayer. Moreover, helping to relieve the burdens of people—especially the needy—will have indescribable effects for the deceased.
Among surahs commonly recited with this intention are Yā Sīn, Ar‑Rahmān, Ṣāffāt, Tabāraka (al‑Mulk), Al‑Aʿrāf, Al‑Aḥzāb, and the Fātiḥah. If you lack the time or ability to recite extensively, distributing small prayer booklets as memorials allows others to recite on behalf of the deceased and pass the reward to their souls.
If you are looking for the best duʿā for the dead, offering salawāt (sending blessings on the Prophet) and gifting their reward to the deceased ranks among the most recommended remembrances. Recitation of Āyat al‑Kursī also carries great virtue. In a hadith attributed to the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Whoever recites Āyat al‑Kursī and dedicates its reward to the people of the graves, God places forty lights into each grave from east to west, expands their graves, raises their ranks, and grants the reciter the reward of sixty thousand prophets; from each word an angel is created who will glorify God for him until the Day of Resurrection."
Food offerings are also a common and beloved form of memorial charity. There are many options regarding what to give: dishes such as sholeh zard (saffron rice pudding), halva, ash‑reshteh (noodle‑bean soup), rice and stew, and similar items are frequently prepared and distributed.
A better approach is to distribute these foods among the needy, multiplying the reward by supporting those in need. You could also arrange for a local bakery to bake and distribute bread (nān salawāt) or hand out fresh fruit, sherbets, or tea. Another way is to donate to organized feeding programs that provide meals to the poor; the deceased will benefit from the charity's ongoing service.
While preparing and distributing meals is valuable, some charitable acts have longer‑lasting effects. For example, installing a water cooler in a busy public place or in areas lacking facilities provides ongoing benefit; every thirsty passerby who uses it can bring blessings for the deceased.
Supporting a needy family or funding a student's education are other enduring forms of charity that can be dedicated to the departed and provide lasting reward.
In a hadith from Imam Jaʿfar al‑Ṣādiq (peace be upon him): "Just as the living are pleased by gifts, the inhabitants of the graves and the barzakh are pleased by mercy and supplication on their behalf." Therefore, do not forget the value of memorial prayer books.
Common collections include the Fātiḥah, Ar‑Rahmān, Yā Sīn, or devotional supplications such as Ziyārat Ashūra, Duʿā al‑Tawassul, Ganj al‑ʿArsh, and similar texts. You may print the deceased's photo and a memorial note on the first or last page. Ensure the text is readable—large, clear type enhances accessibility for elderly readers or those who will recite on behalf of the dead.
If you are seeking the best memorial for the dead, consider these points:
- Every charitable act has its own reward: fasting on behalf of the dead, praying, reciting Qurʾān, helping the needy, etc. Choose according to your means and circumstances.
- Timing affects reward: giving charity on nights of great spiritual potency (such as Laylat al‑Qadr) brings multiplied reward.
- Location matters: performing good deeds in sacred places (mosques, shrines of the Imams) often carries extra merit in popular belief, similar to how prayer in certain places is considered especially meritorious.
The best memorials for the deceased can be ongoing acts such as feeding the poor, reciting supplications and ziyārāt, fasting and other deeds. These practices are not limited to the first forty days, but the first year—especially the fortieth day—often carries special emotional significance. Ceremonies on the fortieth typically include distributing sweets (halva), Yazdi cake, drinks, or distributing prayer booklets with the deceased's name; these acts honor the memory and console the bereaved.
Parents hold great rights over their children. Praying for them and seeking forgiveness is a perpetual duty. The most important memorial charities for deceased parents include paying off their debts and making up missed obligatory acts (such as qadaʾ prayers or fasts) where applicable. Teaching and performing righteous deeds in their name, and being a continuing source of charity (ṣadaqah jārīyah) through one's good deeds, are also major forms of filial piety.
Allāmah Majlisī advises: 'By asking forgiveness for one’s parents, paying their debts, making up their missed worship, offering charity on their behalf, and performing all deeds whose reward reaches them, honor them and do good for them.'
Charity for the dead can be performed at any time, but certain times have increased spiritual capacity. Friday nights and Fridays in general are commonly recommended for the benefit of the deceased. Religious occasions and specific lunar dates (such as the nights of Qadr, Ramadan, mid‑Shaʿbān, ʿArafah, and the first ten days of Dhū al‑Ḥijjah) are also especially propitious.
Defining the best memorial for the dead varies by individual circumstance. Sometimes a discreet aid to a respectable needy person yields immense benefit to the deceased. Survivors should use every opportunity to do good on behalf of their loved ones and share in the reward. Sincere intention, continued charitable action, and concern for others will comfort both the departed and the living.
