the best food a man eats comes from his own earnings, and his child is part of what he has earned.” Since his efforts brought the child into existence, the child’s deeds count among the fruits of his own efforts, unlike the deeds of a brother, paternal uncle, father, or others. He also benefits from their supplications—indeed, even from the supplications of strangers—but these are not part of his own deeds.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“His deeds cease except for three…”

He did not say that he no longer benefits from the deeds of others. When his child supplicates for him, this is part of his own deeds that have not ceased. When someone else supplicates for him, it is not part of his own deeds, but he nevertheless benefits from it.

As for the verse, people have offered various answers concerning it. Some have said that it applies only to the religious law of those before us; others, that its general scope is restricted; others, that it has been abrogated; and others, that it encompasses both direct efforts and efforts that bring something about indirectly, and that faith is among his own efforts through which he has brought this benefit about. None of this is necessary. Rather, the apparent meaning of the verse is true and does not contradict the other scriptural texts. For He said:

“Man will have nothing except what he strives for.”

This is true: a person is entitled only to his own striving, for that is what he owns and has a right to, just as the earnings he owns are those he himself has earned. Another person’s striving belongs rightfully to that other person, not to him. But this does not prevent him from benefiting from another’s striving, just as a person benefits from another’s earnings.

Whoever offers the funeral prayer receives a qīrāt of reward. The person praying is thus rewarded for his own striving, namely his prayer, while the deceased also receives mercy through the living person’s prayer for him, as he said:

“There is no