How can I be a righteous son who benefits his father after his death, and what are the deeds whose rewards may be dedicated to the deceased? Is it permissible to pray or fast on his behalf (not as a make-up), or to recite the Quran and give charity? What are the controls and the narrated formula for dedicating reward? And what is the ruling on saying: "O Allah, grant the like of the reward of what I have recited to the soul of Al-Mustafa (peace be upon him), and to the soul of my father, and to the souls of all Muslim men and women, and believing men and women"?

Scholars have reached a consensus that the deceased benefits from supplication (du'a) and charity (sadaqah), and that the reward for these actions reaches them. However, they differed regarding the arrival of the reward for other righteous deeds. Abu Hanifa and Ahmad held the view that the reward for reciting the Quran reaches the deceased, while the prevalent view in the Shafi'i madhhab and among some scholars is that it does not. There are narrations (ahadith) and reports (athar) indicating that the reward for fasting, charity, and freeing slaves reaches the deceased. As for the verse, "And that humankind will only have what they endeavored for," scholars differed in its interpretation. Some believe it is abrogated, others that it pertains to justice, not grace, and yet others that a person's endeavor includes both their direct efforts and indirect efforts, such as raising a righteous child. The Sharia guidelines for dedicating reward to the deceased involve avoiding innovations (bid'ah), extravagance, and extremism. No specific formula has been reported for dedicating reward, and the mentioned formula is correct. As for dedicating the reward of acts of obedience to the Prophet (peace be upon him), this was not reported from the Companions or the Salaf. It is more appropriate to limit oneself to following his Sunnah and frequently sending blessings and salutations upon him.