notifications_active Weekly Meshkat-e Noor Session: Thursdays at 20:30 at Haj Reza Mosque
Hello,
What is the difference, in terms of reward and effect, between intending to recite al-Fātiḥa specifically for one deceased person and intending it generally for all deceased believers?
(If I make a general intention, will it reach my own deceased loved one too?)
َّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحيمِ
After remembering a particular deceased person, it is better also to offer a general prayer for all deceased believers, so that the reward reaches everyone without diminishing the reward of the person specifically remembered. Prayers such as «اللهم و اعمم بذلک من شهد لک بالربوبیة...» are recommended for this purpose.
It is best to remember all the deceased after making a specific remembrance or mention of someone in particular.
For example:
… وَ اغْفِرْ لِي وَ لِوالِدَيَّ وَ لِجَمِيعِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ إِنَّكَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ قَادِر
... و أَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِي وَ لِجَمِيعِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمَاتِ الْأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَ الْأَمْوَاتِ إِنَّكَ مُجِيبُ الدَّعَوَاتِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين
... اللَّهُمَّ وَ اعْمُمْ بِذَلِكَ مَنْ شَهِدَ لَكَ بِالرُّبُوبِيَّةِ، وَ أَخْلَصَ لَكَ بِالْوَحْدَانِيَّةِ، وَ عَادَاهُ لَكَ بِحَقِيقَةِ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ، وَ اسْتَظْهَرَ بِكَ عَلَيْهِ فِي مَعْرِفَةِ الْعُلُومِ الرَّبَّانِيَّة
... وَ اعْمُمْ بِذَلِكَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي وَ قَرَابَاتِي وَ إِخْوَانِي فِيكَ وَ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتُ وَ أَحَبَّنِي فِيكَ أَوْ وَلَدْتُهُ وَ وَلَدَنِي مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَ الْمُسْلِمَات
O God, by Your grace and generosity, grant the reward for my recitation, my acts of kindness, and … to the person I have in mind. And, my God, without diminishing the reward of that person, whom I have identified, include all believing men and women, and … as well.