Hakeem-ul-Ummat, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states: “There is no deputization in physical acts of worship (i.e. Salah and fasting), i.e. if a person prays Fard Salah on behalf of another, it will not be valid. However, the reward of Salah can be transmitted to them. Just as it is mentioned in Mishkat, Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said to someone: مَنْ    یَضْمِنُ لِیْ مِنْکُمْ اَنْ یُّصَلِّیَ فِیْ مَسْجِدِ الْعَشَّارِ رَکْعَتَیْنِ وَیَقُوْلُ ھٰذِہٖ لِاَبِیْ ھُرَیْرَۃ,’ -. ‘Who from amongst you will guarantee me that he will offer two units of Salah in Masjid ‘Ashaar and transmit its reward to Abu Hurayrah?’

We learn two things from this narration. Firstly, physical acts of worship, like Salah, can also be offered with the intention of transmitting their reward to someone else. Secondly, it is better to transmit the rewards verbally, by saying, ‘O Allah Almighty! May its reward reach so-and-so.’

Now let’s talk about the acts of worship we can perform through spending our money, or certain acts of worship that involve money and physical actions together, like Zakat and Hajj. In regards to this, if someone requests another person to give Zakat for him, then he can do so. In the same way, if a person has money, but no longer has the strength to perform Hajj, he can request someone else to perform Hajj-e-Badl on his behalf, and the reward of every act of worship reaches the person.^[1]

Sadr-ush-Shari’ah, Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ عَلَيْه states: “The Isal al-Thawab of the living benefits the deceased.”

The well of Umm Sa’d

Just like when the mother of Sayyiduna Sa’d رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُ passed away, he said to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! The mother of Sa’d has passed away; which type of Sadaqa is most superior?’ He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: ‘Water.’ So, Sayyiduna Sa’d dug a well and said: ‘This is for