"I was sitting with the Prophet when a woman came to him and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I gave a slave girl to my mother in charity and she died.' He said: 'Your reward is already established, and your right to inherit her has returned it (that Sadaqah) to you.' She said: 'O Messenger of Allah! There was a month of fasting due on her, shall I perform the fast for her?' He said: 'Fast on her behalf.' She said: 'O Messenger of Allah! She never performed Hajj, shall I perform Hajj for her?' He said: 'Yes, perform Hajj on her behalf.'"
Hadith Commentary: The Book on Zakat
Jami' at-Tirmidhi - Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 667
Narration Context
This blessed hadith demonstrates the comprehensive nature of Islamic jurisprudence regarding charity, inheritance, and posthumous obligations. The woman's query reveals her piety and concern for fulfilling religious duties properly.
Scholarly Analysis of the Charity
When the woman gifted a slave girl to her mother as charity (sadaqah), this constituted a valid act of worship. However, upon the mother's death, the charity returned to the daughter through inheritance. Scholars explain that the reward for charity remains recorded with Allah, while the physical property follows inheritance laws.
Imam al-Tirmidhi classifies this as a hasan sahih hadith, indicating its sound authenticity. The ruling demonstrates that charitable intent, once fulfilled, earns divine reward regardless of subsequent legal transfers.
Fasting and Hajj on Behalf of the Deceased
The Prophet's permission to fast and perform Hajj on behalf of the deceased mother establishes two important legal principles. Firstly, obligatory fasts missed due to valid reasons may be fulfilled by heirs. Secondly, Hajj obligations can be discharged by proxies when the deceased failed to perform them.
Classical scholars like Imam al-Nawawi clarify that this applies specifically to obligatory (fard) acts, not voluntary worship. The Hanafi school permits fasting on behalf of the deceased only if they had vowed to fast, while other schools extend this to missed Ramadan fasts.
Legal Implications
This hadith forms the foundation for several legal rulings: the permissibility of proxy performance for certain religious duties, the preservation of spiritual reward despite material reversion, and the importance of fulfilling outstanding obligations of the deceased.
Scholars emphasize that such proxy worship requires sincere intention and should be performed according to proper Islamic guidelines, ensuring the acts are valid and accepted by Allah.