(Ask Maulana)

According to an Islamic teaching, when a person dies, he is completely cut off from this world; the only thing that survives is his intention (niyyah), which remains alive even after death. For example, when a person who wished to perform Hajj passes away before doing so, his heirs can appoint another person to perform Hajj on the behalf of the deceased. This is referred to as Hajj-e-badal. Such an act is rewardable for both—the one who performs Hajj and also the deceased who intended to perform it.

Unfortunately, people have a very limited understanding of this Islamic teaching. And, it must be understood that no teaching of Islam has a limited purview.

For example, suppose a person desired to be part of the Al-Quran Mission. That is, he wished to spend his lifetime in God’s mission, however, he passed away before being able to devote himself to God’s cause. Then the fulfilment of the deceased person’s intention now devolves upon his heirs. This case made me realize that instead of the common practice of performing Quran recitation (Quran khwani) after the death of a person, the task one should engage in is Quran distribution. This would be no ordinary matter, because not only those who distribute the Quran, but also the departed soul, would become eligible for God’s high reward. Doing so would amount to fulfilling the intention of the deceased to become part of the divine mission.