1. Abu Hurayra said:

“The dead person would be upgraded after his death. He would ask, ‘My Lord, how can this be?’ He would be told, ‘Your child asked for forgiveness for you.’” (Sound Chain)

Commentary:
This contains evidence for upgrading a person by virtue of his child’s supplication. Therefore, parents should ensure the proper upbringing of their wards upon the religion so that the children become sources of upgrade for them after their (i.e. the parent’s) death.

2. Muhammad bin Sirin said:

“We were with Abu Hurayra one night and he said, ‘O Allah, forgive Abu Hurayra and his mother and whoever asks for forgiveness for both of them.’”
Muhammad bin Sirin said, “We ask forgiveness for them so that we may be included in the supplication of Abu Hurayra.” (Authentic Chain)

Commentary:
The hadeeth clearly shows Abu Hurayra’s eagerness towards dutifulness to his mother; he sought Allah’s forgiveness for everyone who seeks Allah’s forgiveness for his mother. We beseech Allah the Mighty and Exalted to forgive us, our parents, Abu Hurayra and his mother and the rest of the Muslims.

3. Abu Hurayra said:

“The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, ‘When a person dies, all his actions come to an end with the exception of three things: a Sadaqah Jaariyah (a charity which continues to benefit), knowledge that benefits, or a righteous child who make supplication for him.’” (Authentic)

Commentary:
That is, the rewards for his deeds cease except from the angles mentioned. This is because they are actions with uninterrupted benefits and since they were from his deeds, he also continuously gets rewarded. Knowledge mentioned here includes beneficial knowledge which he taught and books, beneficial works he wrote, dictated, translated or even edited, for they remain over generations. The hadeeth shows the virtue of marrying with the intention of having pious children therefrom and actually training the child upon the path of righteousness. Quite unfortunately, many hoard their wealth, giving only little or even nothing in any form of charity in the absurd notion that they are preserving the wealth!

4. Ibn ‘Abbas said:

“A man said, ‘Messenger of Allah, my mother died without a will. Will it help if I give sadaqah (charity) on her behalf?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’” (Authentic)

Commentary:
Preparing one’s will is urged in this hadeeth. It also shows the permissibility of giving charity on behalf of one’s parents and that doing so is actually from kindness to them. The importance of knowledge before action is also highlighted here.