In Islam, dead people, believers and disbelievers alike, are alive in an intermediary realm until the day of resurrection 2:154,3:169,40:46. An inviolable barrier is placed between us and them preventing any type of interaction between these parallel realms 23:99-100.
The only manner for those alive in that realm to know of things happening in our world, is indirectly. If God decides to convey to them information from the present world. For instance the prophet said
"‘Allah has angels who travel around on Earth conveying to me the Salams of my Ummah".
Things such as an ongoing benevolent action that benefit people down the line (like planting a tree or digging a well) or beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who will pray for his dead parent. As made clear in the Quran and hadith however, such good deeds left in this world only benefit the one in the afterlife who has worked to sincerely build a relationship with his Creator. Ongoing good deeds therefore act as catalysts only upon a righteous person.
Aisha reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, the son of Jud’an would maintain family ties and feed the poor in the time of ignorance. Will it benefit him?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It will not benefit him, for he never said even for one day: My Lord, forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment".
The prophet also said
"Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to those who follow him, without detracting from their reward at all. Whoever calls to misguidance will have sin upon him similar to those who follow him, without detracting from their sins at all".
However the deceased wont be aware of those deeds while they are performed in his name, including prayers, until they are raised
"A man's status will be raised in paradise and he will ask, How did I get here? He will be told, By your sons' duaa for forgiveness for you".
For children or friends to honor someone's memory by spending from their own selves and possessions, says a lot about the righteousness of the person that passed away. Inciting goodness from others whether while one is alive or after death is a continuous source of reward from Allah, the best of Judges. Even if one's children would be to die before puberty, then they will earn that person forgiveness and reward in the hereafter. Provided the person has sown the seeds of goodness in them prior
"There is no man whose two daughters reach the age of puberty and he treats them kindly for the time they are together, but they will gain him admittance to Paradise".
This act of planting a good pattern in this world is so highly regarded, that the prophet uses the beautiful description of pre-pubescent children preceding the righteous into paradise, only to await them at its gates so as to honor them.
"There are no two Muslims, three of whose children die before reaching puberty, but Allah will admit them to Paradise by virtue of His mercy toward them. It will be said to them: 'Enter Paradise.' They will say: 'Not until our parents enter.' So it will be said: 'Enter Paradise, you and your parents."'
Then the Quran mention the case of the righteous' offspring, those that pass the age of puberty, and their situation in the hereafter. Should they merit paradise because of their own deeds, they will be reunited with the righteous even though they might be lower in spiritual rank 52:21-7. This means that as a rule the unification process will be made by upgrading some of those lower in rank, unto the higher stations in which a family member is dwelling, not by downgrading those higher in rank
"and We will not diminish to them aught of their work".
This is the intricate precision of Quranic eloquence.
Further reading answering Sam Shamoun "Islam’s Doctrine of Imputation of Righteousness and Vicarious Death"
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