Short answer
Yes, in the Hanafi school. You may recite the Quran and ask Allah to give its reward to a deceased Muslim, and the reward reaches them. This is called isal al-thawab. The classical Shafi'i view is that the reward of recitation does not reach, though many later Shafi'is accept it when the reciter asks Allah to send it.
A person may give the reward of any good deed, including recitation, salah, fasting, charity and hajj, to another person, living or dead, and it reaches them by Allah's grace. It must be done sincerely; paying people to recite for the dead is not allowed in the relied-upon Hanafi view.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The well-known view of Imam al-Shafi'i is that the reward of recitation does not reach the dead, while dua and charity do; many later Shafi'i scholars hold it reaches when the reciter asks Allah to grant it to the deceased.
- Maliki
- Earlier Maliki scholars disliked reciting for the dead and held its reward does not reach; many later Malikis allowed it.
Explanation
A man told the Prophet ﷺ that his mother had died suddenly and would have given charity had she been able to speak, and asked if she would be rewarded if he gave it for her. He said yes. He also told a woman to perform hajj for her mother who had died, and said that a righteous child who prays for a parent is one of the deeds that continue after death. The Hanafi scholars reason that if the reward of charity and hajj reaches the dead, so does the reward of recitation. The Hanbali school holds the same.
Those who hold that it does not reach cite "there is not for man except that for which he strives" (53:39). The Hanafis answer that a believer's faith and ties with others are part of what he strove for, and that Allah praises the believers who pray for those who went before them (59:10).
To do it, recite any part of the Quran, such as al-Fatiha, al-Ikhlas, Ya-Sin or al-Mulk, then ask: "O Allah, give the reward of what I have recited to so-and-so." No fixed wording or day is required. Many Hanafi scholars caution against fixed third or fortieth day gatherings treated as necessary, and against paying reciters, since what reaches the dead is sincere worship.
For duas to make, see the dua for the deceased and the dua for deceased parents. More on funerals and the grave is in the death section.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Hashr 59:10
وَٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو مِنۢ بَعْدِهِمْ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَٰنِنَا ٱلَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِٱلْإِيمَٰنِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِى قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّۭا لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌۭ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿١٠﴾
And [there is a share for] those who came after them, saying, "Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith and put not in our hearts [any] resentment toward those who have believed. Our Lord, indeed You are Kind and Merciful."
Believers pray for those who died before them, and Allah praises this.
Quran, Surah An-Najm 53:39
وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ ﴿٣٩﴾
And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives
The ayah cited by those who say recitation does not reach; the Hanafis read it alongside the hadith on giving for the dead.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1388
Sahih... إن أمي افتلتت نفسها وأظنها لو تكلمت تصدقت ...
"A man said: my mother died suddenly, and I think she would have given charity had she spoken; will she be rewarded if I give for her? He said: Yes."
The reward of a deed done by the living reaches the dead.
Sahih Muslim 1631
Sahih... إذا مات الإنسان انقطع عنه عمله إلا من ثلاثة ...
"When a person dies, his deeds stop except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge that benefits, or a righteous child who prays for him."
The prayers of the living benefit the dead.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, chapter on hajj on behalf of another. Opens with the principle that a person may give the reward of his deed to another, whether salah, fasting, charity or recitation.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on funerals, discussion of reciting for the dead. The reward of recitation reaches the dead.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Jana'iz, discussion of what benefits the dead. The Shafi'i views on recitation for the dead.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.