Q: My father died and I want to give Sadaqah (voluntary charity) on his behalf as long as I am alive. I hope that your Eminence will tell me about the most favorable months during which Sadaqah should be given. Is it permissible to give Sadaqah in any town of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia? Or should it be given in the town in which the person died? It should be noted that I live in Makkah while the deceased lived in the Southern Region. Please give us a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar), may Allah reward you with the best.

A: Giving Sadaqah on behalf of your deceased father is a good deed, and the best times in which you should do so are the month of Ramadan and the first ten days of the month of Dul-Hijjah due to the authentic Hadiths narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) in this regard. It is not obligatory to give Sadaqah on his behalf in a certain region, rather it is Mandub (commendable) to do so, and the best place for doing that is Makkah Al-Mukarramah, due to the multiplication of reward involved if there are any needy persons who are in urgent need of this Sadaqah. Otherwise, it should be paid to those who suffer poverty anywhere. However, giving Sadaqah to poor relatives is better and greater in reward, for the Prophet (Part No. 9; Page No. 31) (peace be upon him) said: Your Sadaqah (voluntary charity) to the poor is regarded as one good deed, but paying it to your relatives is both Sadaqah and maintaining ties of kinship. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.