The departed have greater favour with God. The above are examples of prayers of living persons for the sake of living persons. As for the departed, they have greater favour with God to the extent that He has mercy on people for their sake even without them praying. How much more then if they do pray for someone?
Examples of this are the merciful and compassionate works God did for the sake of His servant David. When Solomon sinned, God decided to tear his kingdom away from him, but He said about the division of the kingdom: "Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However I will not tear away the whole kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen" (1Kin. 11: 12,13).