Question Summary:
Is it permissible to give charity or dig a well with the intention of reward for all those that one has wronged whether alive or deceased?

Question Detail:

Is it permissible to give charity or dig a well with the intention of reward for all those that one has wronged whether alive or deceased?

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
Isaal-e-Thawaab (to perform a virtuous act and grant the reward to any person, alive or deceased) is permissible and in fact (Mustahabb) meritorious.
أن الإنسان له أن يجعل ثواب عمله لغيره صلاة أو صوما أو صدقة أو غيرها عند أهل السنة والجماعة
( قوله أو غيرها ) كتلاوة القرآن والأذكار
(Fathul Qadeer Vol.3 Pg.65 – Maktabah Rasheediyah)
However, this will not compensate for the wrong done to that person. The wrong done to that person can be forgiven only if that person forgives you, or if the money is returned, in case of monitory loss. As far as the deceased are concerned, one could make dua and istighfar for them, and hope for forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala.
Aapke Masail aur Unka Hal Vol.8 Pg.168 – Maktabah Ludhyanwi
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. M. Jawed Iqbal,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah