Her statement, “fa-irtāḥ,” is spelled with a ḥāʾ. In al-Humaydī’s concordance of the two Ṣaḥīḥ collections it appears as “fa-irtāʿ,” with an ʿayn, meaning that he was moved and paid special attention to her.

[Explanation]
Acts of filial devotion continue even after a person’s parents have died. When someone asked the Prophet ﷺ, “Is there any dutifulness toward my parents left for me to perform after their death?” he ﷺ replied, “Yes: al-ṣalāh ʿalayhimā.” Here al-ṣalāh means making supplication for them; it is not the funeral prayer but personal duʿāʾ. The word carries this meaning in the verse, “Take from their wealth a charity by which you purify and cleanse them, and pray for them” (al-Tawbah 9:103). Whenever charity was brought to him, the Prophet ﷺ would say, “O Allah, send prayers upon the family of so-and-so,” as in the report of ʿAbd-Allāh ibn Abī Awfā who brought his people’s charity to the Prophet ﷺ, whereupon he said, “O Allah, send prayers upon the family of Abī Awfā,” invoking blessing for them.

Thus the Prophet’s words, “al-ṣalāh ʿalayhimā,” signify supplicating for one’s parents—saying, for example, “O Allah, send Your prayers upon my father and mother,” or asking that they be admitted to Paradise, saved from the Fire, and the like.

The second act is “al-istighfār lahumā”—seeking forgiveness for them—by saying, “O Allah, forgive me and my parents,” and similar prayers. As for “inʿifādh ʿahdihimā,” it means carrying out their bequest.

These, then, are five matters: praying for them, seeking forgiveness for them, and honouring