The reality of reciting for the dead (Fatiha)
What it actually means to "do Fatiha" for someone who has died: reciting the Qur'an or another good deed and sending its reward to their soul.
You may have heard grown-ups say they are going to "do Fatiha" for someone who has died. Here is what that actually means.
The word "Fatiha" means to open or to begin. The very first surah of the Qur'an is called Al-Fatiha because it comes first. Over time, people started using the word "Fatiha" for something a bit different: reading some of the Qur'an, or doing another good deed, and then asking Allah to give the reward for it to someone, usually someone who has died. Because Surah Al-Fatiha is almost always part of this reading, the whole thing came to be called "Fatiha" too.
One way people do this
- Recite Surah Al-Fatiha once.
- Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul huwa Allahu Ahad) a few times: three, five, seven or eleven times.
- Send blessings (durud) on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Then say something like: "O Allah, please send the reward of this reading to the soul of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, to the souls of the Prophets and the Awliya, to the soul of [the person's name], and to the souls of everyone in the Muslim Ummah."
Reading some of the Qur'an, like Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas, and asking Allah to give its reward to someone who has died is a good thing to do. The dua and reading of the living reach the dead and make them happy.
12It is not only Qur'an reading: any good deed, like giving charity, can be done for someone who has died, and its reward reaches them. When you send a reward to many people at once, every one of them gets the whole of it.
123"Fatiha" is a familiar word in everyday practice, and it is worth being clear about what it actually refers to.
The word Fatiha means "to open" or "to begin". The first surah of the Qur'an is named Al-Fatiha because it is the opening chapter. In common usage, however, "Fatiha" has come to mean something broader: reciting the Qur'an, or a few selected verses, with the intention of sending the reward (thawab) of that recitation to someone. Because Surah Al-Fatiha is usually part of what is recited, the practice as a whole picked up the name "Fatiha".
The real substance of Fatiha, then, is this: reciting the whole Qur'an or part of it, or performing some other good deed, and then giving (isal, "sending on") the reward of that deed to someone else.
The example given
- Recite Surah Al-Fatiha once.
- Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul huwa'llahu ahad) three, five, seven, or eleven times.
- Send durud (blessings) on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Then say: "May the reward of this recitation and this good deed be sent to the soul of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the souls of the Prophets and the Awliya, and to the soul of [name of person], and to the souls of all the members of the Muslim Ummah."
Reciting the Qur'an, such as Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas, and sending its reward (thawab) to the soul of a deceased person is permitted and recommended. The deceased awaits the supplication of the living, and it reaches them as a gift.
12Any good deed, not only recitation, may be performed and its reward sent to the deceased, and it benefits them: charity, freeing a slave and fulfilling a vow on their behalf are all recommended. When the reward is sent to many souls at once, each receives it complete, not a divided share.
123The term "Fatiha", as used in common practice around the deceased, needs distinguishing from the surah of the same name, though the two are closely connected.
Literally, Fatiha means "an opening" or "a beginning"; the first surah of the Qur'an bears the name for exactly that reason: it opens the muṣḥaf. In ordinary usage, though, "Fatiha" denotes the wider practice of reciting the Qur'an, or a portion of it, with the intention of directing (isāl) its reward (thawāb) to a particular soul or souls. Because Surah al-Fatiha is habitually included in what is recited on such occasions, the practice as a whole has taken on its name.
Its true substance, stated plainly: someone recites the whole Qur'an, or part of it, or performs some other good deed, and then transfers the reward of that deed to another, living or, as is usual in this context, deceased.
The worked example given in the source
- Recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah once.
- Recite Sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ (Qul huwa'llāhu aḥad) three, five, seven, or eleven times.
- Send durūd upon the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
- Say: "May the reward of this recitation and this good deed be sent to the soul of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the souls of the Prophets and the Awliyāʾ, and to the soul of [name], and to the souls of all the members of the Muslim Ummah."
Reciting the Qur'an, such as Surat al-Fatihah and Surat al-Ikhlas, and directing its reward (isal ath-thawab) to the soul of the deceased is permitted and recommended (mustahabb). The deceased awaits the supplication of the living, which reaches them as a gift from Allah.
12Isal ath-thawab is not confined to recitation: any righteous deed, such as charity (sadaqah), emancipation or the fulfilment of a vow on behalf of the deceased, may be performed for them and benefits them, and doing so is mustahabb. Directing a single deed's reward to many recipients does not divide it; each receives it in full, by Allah's generosity (fadl).
123This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 243 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Funeral The Reality of Fatiha
- The word "Fatiha" means to open or to begin something. For example, the first chapter (Surah) of the Quran is called Al-Fatiha because it is the beginning. But in common usage, "Fatiha" refers to the act of reading the Quran or a few selected verses with the intention of sending the reward (thawab) to someone. Since Surah Al-Fatiha is included in this recitation, it is also called Fatiha.
- The true meaning of Fatiha is when someone reads the entire Quran or a part of it, or performs some other good deed, and then gives the reward (thawab) of that deed to someone else. For example, if someone recites Surah Al-Fatiha once, and recites Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allah) three, five, seven, or eleven times along with sending blessings (Durud) upon the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), they then say, "May the reward of this recitation and this good deed be sent to the soul of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), the souls of the Prophets and Awliya, and to the soul of [name of person], and to the souls of all the members of the Muslim Ummah."
Rulings of Funeral Note
If the reward of reading the Quran or performing any good deed is sent to multiple people (or souls), it does not mean the reward is divided and becomes smaller for each person. Instead, each person receives the full reward (as intended for that good deed). This is purely a blessing from Allah.
Terms on this page
Related
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- What fasting is, and why it matters What the fast of Ramadan is, why it is the fourth pillar of Islam, and the virtues the Qur'an and hadith give it.
- The Witr prayer Witr is necessary (wajib) after Isha: three units (rak'ahs) with an extra surah in each, and the supplication (Dua-e-Qunoot) recited standing in the third.
- How to pray the funeral prayer, with the words to say The four takbirs of the funeral prayer (salat al-janazah) in order, and the exact Arabic, transliteration and translation of the praise (thana), salutations (durood) and supplications (duas) said at each.