Ongoing Charity After Death

Ongoing Charity in Hadith and Quran

Islam came as a guideline to us Muslims to know how to lead a life in which Allah Almighty will be pleased with us.

To plant the seeps of good deeds everywhere we go and to help one another through our good days and hard days. 

Charity is one of the keys through which Allah teaches us how to be merciful and kind to one another and how to maintain our humanity through all the hardships of life.

To reach for our brothers in Islam and show them support and compassion. 

Allah Almighty and our Beloved Prophet ﷺ have told us about the Thawab of ongoing charity – Sadaqah jariyah – 

Allah Almighty says in His Holy Qur’an…

“You will never achieve righteousness until you donate some of what you cherish. And whatever you give is certainly well known to Allah.” 

– Surah Ali ‘Imran – Verse 92.

“Spend in the cause of Allah and do not let your own hands throw you into destruction ˹by withholding˺. And do good, for Allah certainly loves the good-doers.”. 

– Surah Al-Baqarah – Verse 195.

“Tell My believing servants to establish prayer and donate from what We have provided for them—openly and secretly—before the arrival of a Day in which there will be no ransom or friendly connections.”. 

– Surah Ibrahim – Verse 31.

Our Beloved Prophet also told us about the benefits of the ongoing charity – Sadaqah Jariyah – and the great Thawab – rewords- that blesses his life in this Dunya and the hereafter. 

The Prophet ﷺ said “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).” – Muslim.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger as stating that Allah Most High had said,

“If you spend, son of Adam, I shall spend on you.” – Bukhari and Muslim.

Marthad b. ‘Abdallah said – One of the Prophet’s Companions told him that he had heard Him ﷺ says, “The believer’s shade on the day of resurrection will be his sadaqa.” – Ahmad. 

Ongoing Charity is what we give to others whose profits last for a long time and can benefit many people, such as knowledge which is beneficial, a virtuous descendant who prays for him, or Sadaqah Jariyah. 

Spread the Knowledge

Islam deeply praises learning and teaching for the benefits it holds for the ones who learn and those who teach.

Spreading knowledge means teaching and giving knowledge to all people, whether students or people in general.

The knowledge you spread that helps educate people and benefit them in that knowledge you gave has great Thawab from Allah Almighty. And the best knowledge we can teach is the knowledge of Qur’an.

Uthmān reported The Prophet ﷺ said, “The best among you is he who learns and teaches the Qur’ān.” – Bukhari.

Ibn Mas’ud (RAA) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“He who guides (others) to an act of goodness, will have a reward similar to that of its doer.” – Muslim.

Raise a Righteous Child

When parents instill in their children the love of Allah Almighty and the love of the Prophet ﷺ and teach them how He ﷺ was with his family and among his friends, they give their children a different point of view on the life they ought to live.

When they teach their children the Holy Qur’an, the daily sunnah, and the prophetic virtues, these children will grow up holding the source of the ultimate power of faith in Allah and the grace of Him SWT.

Later on, these children will lead a blessed life. By living that way, they will be the “righteous children” that Allah will accept their prayers and Dua’a to their parents after they pass away because they have become the “Sadaqah Jariyah” to their parents.  

Share Copies of The Qur’an

Sharing copies of The Qura’an also is considered an ongoing charity. Whether you share it as a gift for someone or donate copies to an Islamic center or a Masjid, you will have rewards for everyone who used it to recite its verses or study it. 

Sharing and distributing copies of The Qura’an – the translated copies of Qura’an – among non-Muslims interested in knowing about Islam for the sake of spreading Da’wah (calling people to Islam) has the enormous rewards of all.

And in both ways, sharing copies of the Qur’an is Sadaqah Jariya – Ongoing Charity – and its thawab is great.

Contribute to Building or Maintaining a Masjid

Masjids are the symbol of Islam. Building or maintaining Masjids is incredible work and grants you great thawab from Allah Almighty. 

“It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah while they openly profess disbelief. Their deeds are void, and they will be in the Fire forever. -V.17

The mosques of Allah should only be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and fear none but Allah. It is right to hope that they will be among the ˹truly˺ guided. -V. 18” – Surah Al-Tawbah – Verses 17,18.

The thawab -reward- for maintaining or building a masjid is so great that by doing so, you are building a house for yourself in Jannah.

Can you imagine the rewards you gain for every Muslim who enters the Masjid to pray, or to read and study the Qur’an, or attend and listen to classes of Deen (religion of Islam).

Can you Imagin the thawab? It is remarkable! 

Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ said: “He who builds a mosque for Allah, Allah would build for him (a house) in Paradise like it.” – Sahih Muslim.

Help People to Access Clean Water

Making way for clean water to reach people so they can drink safe, clean water is a great thing to do in Islam. It is a perfect type of Sadaqah, and it is Sadaqah Jariyah – an ongoing charity – It was narrated that Sa’d bin ‘Ubadah said:

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, my mother has died; shall I give in charity on her behalf?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ I said: ‘What kind of charity is best?’ He said: ‘Providing drinking water.'”

 – An-Nasa’i.

Donate Medical Equipment

Ibn ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “A Muslim is a brother of another Muslim. So he should not oppress him nor should he hand him over to (his satan or to his self which is inclined to evil). Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs; whoever removes the troubles of his brother, Allah will remove one of his troubles on the Day of Resurrection; and whoever covers up the fault of a Muslim, Allah will cover up his fault on the Day of Resurrection”. – Al-Bukhari and Muslim

Donating medical equipment to medical centers that are providing medical services to those in need is a great deal. By giving these donations to these centers and medical points, you’re helping your Muslim brothers by reducing their pain and helping them gain better health and a better future. 

Plant Trees and Plants

Planting trees and plants is one of Sadaqah Jariyah. Their benefits are continuous. Everyone who benefits from their shadows in the summer heat or eats their fruits will return to their donors as rewards. 

Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:

“Never does a Muslim plants a tree except that he has the reward of charity for him, for what is eaten out of that is charity; what is stolen out of that, what the beasts eat out of that, what the birds eat out of that is charity for him. (In short) none incurs a loss to him, but it becomes a charity on his part.”. – Sahih Muslim.

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