Gifting the reward of good deeds to the living

Gifting the reward of the good deeds you do to a living person is a point of difference of opinion among the scholars.

The relied upon position in the Hanaabilah school of thought is that you can do good deeds such as reciting the Qur'aan, dhikr, etc., and gift the reward to the living.

It is written in al-'iQnaa:

وكل قربة فعلها مسلم وجعل ثوابها أو بعضها كالنصف ونحو لمسلم حي أو ميت جاز ونفعه

Every good deed done by a Muslim which brings one closer to Allaah and then its reward [or a portion of its reward like half] is given to the living or dead then that reward will benefit him [i.e. the living or dead to whom the reward is given].

The majority of scholars, however, are of the view that the reward of good deeds cannot be gifted to the living. And there is a view in the Hanaabliah school of thought which conforms to the view of the majority.

It should be noted here that opponents of the Salafi movement often like to claim that the Salafis are nothing more than Hanaabilah. The Salafis do not believe one can gift reward to the dead or the living while the Hanaabilah believe you can gift to both the dead and the living.

Those with any knowledge will know that this difference and others clearly show that the Salafis and Hanaabilah are not the same. The key being anyone with knowledge and intellect.

Reference(s):

Does the living benefit from the reward [of good deeds] gifted to him