The Customary Fatiha over Food

Question

Reciting the fatiha over food placed in front of oneself — is it fard, wajib, sunna or mustahabb? If the food is not placed in front, will the reward not reach [the deceased]? Will the reward of the food reach [him] if it is conveyed to the deceased before the food is fed to the poor, or not? If, without reciting the fatiha, the food is fed to the poor and the reward is gifted to the deceased — does the reward reach the deceased or not?

Answer

The reward of every good deed can be conveyed to the deceased. Food, clothing, grain, cash — whatever is given to a poor and needy person with the intention of conveying the reward to the deceased, the reward reaches him thereby. Likewise the reward reaches him by reciting the Qur’an, offering supererogatory prayers (nafl)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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