Can the dead Hear our duas?

There has been a difference of opinion among the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) regarding whether the dead hear the living, and this difference has continued since their time. Therefore, it is not correct to state categorically that the dead always hear everything or that they cannot hear at all.

Authentic Hadiths establish that the dead hear in certain circumstances. For example, after the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ addressed those who had been killed and said:

«هَلْ وَجَدْتُّمْ مَا وَعَدَ رَبُّكُمْ حَقًّا؟

“Have you found what your Lord promised you to be true?”

Some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) asked: “O Messenger of Allah, are you addressing the dead?” The Prophet ﷺ replied:

«مَا أَنْتُمْ بِأَسْمَعَ مِنْهُمْ، وَلَكِنْ لَا يُجِيبُونَ

“You do not hear better than them, but they cannot respond.”

Another narration states:

«إِنَّهُمْ الْآنَ يَسْمَعُونَ مَا أَقُولُ»

“They are now hearing what I am saying.”

However, another interpretation of this incident has been narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), in which the words are:

«إِنَّهُمْ لَيَعْلَمُونَ الْآنَ مَا كُنْتُ أَقُولُ لَهُمْ حَقٌّ»

“They now know that what I used to say to them was true.”

She also cited the verse of the Qur’an:

﴿إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ الْمَوْتَى﴾

“Indeed, you cannot make the dead hear.”

For this reason, there has been a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding Sama‘ al-Mawta (the hearing of the dead).

Nevertheless, the Hadiths certainly establish that Allah Almighty can make the dead hear the voices of the living on certain occasions. Therefore, regarding your mother’s cousin, it would not be appropriate to say with certainty that she necessarily hears every prayer you make for her. However, it is also incorrect to say that merely because you are not her close relative, your prayer cannot benefit her in any way.

You may pray for her; rather, it is permissible and beneficial to pray for any deceased Muslim, whether they are your close relative or a Muslim whom you did not personally know. The Qur’an teaches us to pray for those believers who passed away before us:

﴿رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ﴾

(Al-Hashr: 10)

Therefore, you may pray for your mother’s cousin, as well as for those Muslims who have passed away without any family or children remaining, asking Allah for their forgiveness, mercy, spaciousness and light in their graves, and comfort therein.

It is also important to understand that whether the deceased hears a prayer and whether the prayer benefits the deceased are two separate matters. For the prayer to benefit the deceased, it is not necessary for us to know whether the deceased directly heard our prayer or not. Allah Almighty, through His grace, can convey the benefit of the living person’s supplication to the deceased.

Therefore, you may freely make the following supplication:

اللّٰهم اغفر لها وارحمها، ووسّع قبرها، ونوّر قبرها، واجعل قبرها روضةً من رياض الجنة۔

“O Allah, forgive her and have mercy upon her, make her grave spacious, illuminate her grave, and make her grave one of the gardens of Paradise.”

Likewise, you may pray for elderly or lonely Muslims who have passed away and have no one left from their family. A sincere supplication made for a Muslim is not wasted in the sight of Allah Almighty.

And Allah knows best.