Examining the Legitimacy of Proxy Prayers for the Dead from the Perspective of Jurisprudential Denominations

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Theology, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Master's Graduate in Theology, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran,

Abstract

One of the rules of jurisprudence is to take a proxy for the acts of worship, such as the proxy prayer on behalf of the dead. According to the basic rule, the five denominations agree that it is not possible to represent other people in acts of worship, such as prayer, during their lifetime, and it is obligatory for one to do them himself. But after death, according to the Imami view, the dead benefit from the missed prayers performed by the hireling and the proxy. Therefore, the missed prayer of the dead can be performed on their behalf. According to the famous jurists of the Sunni denominations, representation in prayer is not correct even after death, and the dead do not benefit from the actions of others. Their proofs for this ruling are verses from the Holy Quran, the tradition of the Prophet (S) and the Companions, consensus, and the issue of the contradiction between representation in worship and self-cultivation. By examining the arguments and views of some jurists believing in the permission, as well as scrutinizing the evidence proving the permission of representation of the dead, the view of the correctness of representation of them is strengthened.

Keywords

Main Subjects


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