I was even told something astonishing: when lunch was served, they would all place their hands over it and say, “O Allah, grant its reward to so-and-so.” They would do the same with dinner. Thus, no righteous deed remained except that they assigned it to them. All of this is religious innovation.

Unfortunately, when people adopt a practice and are not warned against it, that innovated practice becomes a sunnah in their eyes, and they cry out at anyone who denounces them: “Do you begrudge our dead?!”

“Our dead are in need, and their deeds have come to an end!” We say: Supplicate for them. Rather than assigning the righteous deed to them, do it for yourself and supplicate to Allah for them. That is better and more virtuous for you, and it follows the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance.

When we were young, we never knew of a sacrificial animal being offered on behalf of a living person; all the sacrifices were for the dead. But now—praise be to Allah—people have become enlightened and have come to know that the sacrifice is, in principle, for the living.

Some people may offer the excuse that people in earlier times were in severe poverty, and that they had no sacrificial animals apart from those provided through bequests made by the deceased from their wealth, properties, and real estate. But this justification does not hold for the common person.

For the common person does not tell you, “I do not have any money.” Rather, he says, “A sacrifice can only be offered for the dead,” and similar statements.

It is recommended that food be prepared for the family of the deceased and sent to them ………

His statement: “It is recommended that food be prepared for the family of the deceased and sent to them,” is based on the saying of the Prophet ﷺ when news of the death of Jaʿfar ibn Abi Talib reached him: