The following question was presented to Sheikh 'Abdul-'Azeez ibn Baz rahimahullah:

Question: If I give charity on behalf of my deceased father will I receive the same reward? And I request a clarification on possible ways to give (charity) on behalf of the deceased, and is supplication better than all of that? Answer: Giving charity on behalf of the dead is not only prescribed, it is also beneficial and helpful for the dead. It is established in the two Sahih collections (Bukhari & Muslim) on the authority of the Prophet ﷺ that he was asked concerning that; a man said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! If my mother has passed away, will she attain reward if I give charity on her behalf? He said: Yes. So charity benefits the dead, and thee is hope that the one who gives charity receives an equal reward to that of the deceased; because he is a good-doer and a benefactor, so there is hope that he will be rewarded in proportion to what he gave, as the Prophet ﷺ said: (من دل على خير فله مثل أجر فاعله) “He who directs (others) to good will have the same reward as the one who does it.” So if the believer directs (others) to good, or he does good to others, there is hope for him to receive a similar reward. If he gives charity on behalf of his father, or his mother, or the like, then the one on whose behalf this charity was given and the one who gives it will both be rewarded. Similarly, if he performs Hajj on behalf of his father or mother, he will be rewarded and his father and mother will also be rewarded, and it is hoped he will receive the same reward or greater; in return for his good deed, his upholding the ties of kinship and his kindness to his parents, and so on. Allah's Bounty is expansive. The principle in the Shari’ah in such a case is that the one who does good to others receives a great reward, and if he does good on behalf of others, there is hope that he will receive the same reward as obtained by the one who for whom that good is done, and he ﷺ said: ((إذا مات ابن آدم انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث: صدقة جارية، أو علم ينتفع به، أو ولد صالح يدعو له)) “When the son of Adam dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: (1) ongoing charity, (2) or beneficial knowledge, (3) or a righteous child who supplicates for him.” Thus, O servant of Allah, in giving charity on behalf of your parents, and in your showing kindness to the servants of Allah due to acts of goodness, you will have a great reward for this, likewise for those you were good to by way of teaching them and they accepted from you, and you guided them and they accepted from you, and you directed them to goodness and they accepted from you, for them is a reward, and for you will be the same reward as them. Presenter: Ok...may Allah reward you. He asks: Does supplication take the place of charity, Sheikh 'Abdul 'Aziz? Sheikh: Supplication is something independent. Supplication contains much good, but it does not take the place of charity. Charity is prescribed just like supplication is prescribed, and supplication is general for parents and other than them, and the same with charity. Charity is an act of kindness, goodness and worship, and so is supplication. They cannot replace one another. So it is befitting for the child and the like to do both; to supplicate for his parents and give charity on their behalf, and likewise on behalf of his relatives, his loved ones and good friends; he supplicates for them and gives charity on their behalf; all of that is good. Presenter: May Allah reward you. So supplication is not better than action (doing something on behalf of the deceased), and action is not better than supplication? Sheikh: It varies. In some cases, supplication may be better, and in other cases, charity may be better. And supplication is something easy, praise be to Allah, it does not cost anything.