It has also been said that a poor person may receive payment for these acts, but a wealthy person may not. This is the third view in Ahmad’s school, just as Allah has permitted an orphan’s guardian to take from the orphan’s wealth when poor, but to abstain when wealthy. This view is stronger than the others. On this basis, if a poor person performs these acts for Allah and accepts payment only because of need and to help him obey Allah, Allah rewards him according to his intention. He has thus consumed what is lawful and done what is righteous.

If, however, a person recites the Quran only for material gain, they earn no reward for doing so. If there is no reward, nothing reaches the deceased, for it is the reward of the deed that reaches the deceased, not the deed itself. If this money is instead given in charity to someone entitled to receive it, its reward reaches the deceased. It is better still to direct it to someone who will use it to help them recite and teach the Quran, for devoting one’s efforts and wealth to helping Muslims learn, recite, and teach the Quran is among the finest deeds.

As for the deceased’s family preparing food and inviting people to eat it, this is not prescribed; rather, it is a religious innovation. Indeed, Jarīr ibn ʿAbd Allāh said:

“We used to regard gathering at the home of the deceased’s family and their preparing food for people as a form of wailing.”

What is recommended when someone dies is that food be prepared for their family, as stated by