My father is not living. Can I fast for him so he gets reward from Allah? He, al-Hamdulillah, was very punctual regarding his prayers and fasts. I just want to know if I can fast on my own for him and not as compensation for some of his missing fasts.Is it ok to do Umrah or Hajj for a dead person? Can we say Nafil for people who have died so that they get reward for that? Can we pray Nafil as a form of Sadaqa for a dead parent?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Abu Usayd Maalik ibn Rabee'ah As-Saa'idi narrated: “Once we were sitting in the company of Allah's Messenger (), there came upon us a man from Banu Salamah and said: “O Allah's Messenger! Is there any form of duty on me towards my parents after they died?' The Prophet said: "Yes, (It is your duty) to supplicate for them, to seek Allah's Pardon for them, to fulfill their commitments, to treat their blood relatives kindly, and to be generous with their friends.” [Abu Daawood]

Also, it is reported in Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet said: “When a person dies all his good deeds cease except for three: a continuous act of charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous son who supplicates for him.”

The above-stated Hadeeth and their like constitute a clear evidence that a deceased person gets benefit from some good deeds of the living people such as supplications and Sadaqah (charity).

Other Hadeeth state that the deceased person get benefit from ‘Umrah and Hajj done on his behalf as explained in Fataawa 82090 and 82612.

As for performing optional prayer and fasting on behalf of the dead, it is permissible – according to some group of scholars – to do some good deeds and then to ask Allah to grant their reward to some dead person. This is the opinion of the Hanbali School of jurisprudence. Al-Iqnaa’ reads: “Every good deed done by a Muslim with the intention of granting its reward, wholly or partially, to a dead or living Muslim, is permissible and beneficial.”

In the same vein, it is legal for one to observe the obligatory fast on behalf of a dead person for the Hadeeth of Ibn 'Abbaas who said: “A man came to the Prophet and said: 'My mother has died without making up for a missed month of fasting. Can I fast on her behalf?' The Prophet said: “Would you pay her debt if she owed someone?” The man said: 'Yes'. The Prophet said: “Allah is more deserving of payment in settlement of His debt.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

As for obligatory prayers, according to Al-Qurtubi, there is a consensus that no one performs prayers on behalf of someone else.

Here, we state it is better and safer – concerning what one can do on behalf of a dead – to adhere to actions that are proven in the Sunnah and agreed upon by scholars, so that one can avoid the difference of opinions among the scholars.

Allah knows best.