Giving The Rewards of Quran & Tawaf to Parents
Is supplicating for the parents in the obligatory prayers permissible? Can one pass over to them the reward for completing the Quran or the Tawaf?
There is no harm in supplicating in the prayer either for oneself of for one's parents or other than them, rather this is legislated. The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is in Sujud, so increase in making the supplication (in it)." [Narrated by Muslim]
And he (Peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"As for the Ruku', then magnify the Lord (in it), and as for the Sujud then strive in making the supplication (in it), for it is worthy of being responded to." [Narrated by Muslim]
And in the two Sahihs of Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, on the authority of Ibn Mas'ud, that when the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) taught him the Tashahhud, he said:
"...then choose a supplication which pleases you and supplicate (with it)."
And in another narration:
"...then choose from that which you desire."
What is implied here is before the Taslim, so if he supplicates in the Sujud or at the end of the prayer, for himself, his parents or the Muslims, there is no harm in this for what is mentioned of the generalness of these Ahadith and other than them.
As for passing the reward for reciting the Qur'an or making Tawaf for one's parents or other than them from the Muslims, then this is an issue where there is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars.
That which is better, is to leave this since no evidence exists for its permissibility.
Acts of worship are permanently stipulated, so nothing is to be practiced unless legislated by the Shari'ah, for the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said:
"Anyone who introduces something into this matter of ours (i.e. Islam), that which is not from it, will have it rejected." [Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
And in another narration:
"Anyone who does an act which is not in agreement with us, then he will have it rejected." [Narrated by Muslim]
And Allah is the Expounder of Success.
Sheikh Ibn Baz