[Q652] What Do the Deceased Know?

QUESTION:

Wafaat ke baad, rooh ko konsi baato ka patta chalta hai?
Jaise aulad ke ache bure amal ka unko patta chalta hai? Ya aulad ki zindagi me koi khushi ya azmaish hoti hai to kya marhoom waldain ko pata chalta hai?

ANSWER:

The nature of a person’s relationship with others during his worldly life continues after death as well. To the extent that the deceased (meaning the Ruh (soul), because perception is a quality of the soul) recognizes the one who washes him, carries his funeral, shrouds him, and lowers him into his grave.

Likewise, after burial, the deceased sees those who come to visit his grave. If he recognized them during his worldly life, he continues to recognize them after death. If the visitor is a loved one, the deceased derives comfort and companionship from his presence.

Similarly, the deeds of one’s children are presented to their deceased parents. They become pleased upon seeing their children’s righteous deeds and become saddened upon seeing their evil deeds.

Likewise, if a child or another relative of the deceased experiences hardship, pain, or a calamity, the deceased is also grieved by it. If goodness, happiness, or blessings reach them, the deceased also feels happiness because of it.

These matters, as well as many others, are established for the deceased according to the blessed Ahadith (Prophetic narrations) and the statements of the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah (the People of the Prophetic Way and Congregation). For further details, refer to the renowned treatise of Imam-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat (Leader of the People of Sunnah), Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمة الله عليه, entitled “Hayat al-Amwat fi Bayan Sama‘ al-Amwat”, found in Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 9.

A blessed Hadith states:

عن أبي سعيد الخدري: أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «إن الميت يعرف من يحمله ومن يغسله، ومن يدليه في قبره»
(Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Hadith no. 10997)

It is narrated:

مامن المیت یموت الا وھو یعلم مایکون فی اھلہ بعدہ وانھم یغسلونہ ویکفونہ وانہ لینظر الیھم۔
(Sharh al-Sudur, as cited in Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 9)

It is stated in Al-Jami‘ al-Saghir:

“تعرض الأعمال یوم الأثنین والخمیس علی ﷲ وتعرض علی الأنبیاء وعلی الآباء والأمّهات یوم الجمعۃ فیفرحون بحسناتهم وتزداد وجوههم بیاضاً وإشراقاً فاتّقوا ﷲ ولاتؤذوا موتاکم”
(Al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, Vol. 1, p. 295, Hadith no. 3316)

It is stated in Fatawa Ridawiyyah:

“Among the most severe, widespread, and continuous rights is that one should never cause pain to one’s parents in their graves by committing sins. All of a person’s deeds are conveyed to his parents. When they see good deeds, they become happy, and their faces shine and glow with joy. When they see sins, they become saddened, and their hearts are affected with grief. Parents do not deserve to be caused distress even in their graves.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 24, p. 391)

A question and answer from Fatawa Ridawiyyah states:

Question: After death, what type of connection does the deceased maintain with his relatives?
Answer: Death is not the annihilation of the Ruh (soul). Rather, it is the separation of the soul from the body. The soul remains alive forever. A Hadith states:

“انما خلقتم للابد”

“You have been created to live forever.”

Therefore, the relationships that existed during worldly life continue thereafter. A Hadith states that:

“Every Friday, the deeds of a week’s worth of actions of the children are presented to their parents. They become happy at the good deeds and saddened by the bad deeds. Therefore, do not cause distress to your departed ones, O servants of Allah.” And Allah knows best.

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 9)

It is also stated in Fatawa Ridawiyyah:

“If relatives experience hardship, the deceased also feels sorrow because of it. Regarding the prohibition of excessive mourning for the deceased, it has been mentioned that when you weep, the deceased also weeps, so do not cause him grief. The deceased sees the one who comes to visit his grave and hears what he says. If he knew that person during his lifetime, he still recognizes him after death. If the visitor is a relative or friend, the deceased finds comfort in his visit. All of these matters are explicitly mentioned in the Ahadith and statements of the Imams and form part of the belief of Ahl al-Sunnah. Their details may be found in our book Hayat al-Amwat fi Bayan Sama‘ al-Amwat.”

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Vol. 9)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 14th June 2026.