Sadaqah Jariyah
Sadaqah Jariyah (Arabic: صدقة الجارية) is a form of recurring charity and source of ongoing reward, benefitting us not only in this life but continuing to benefit us in the next.
This concept is derived from the following Hadith:
أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ ❁ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ❁ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْعَلاَءُ ❁ عَنْ أَبِيهِ ❁ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ❁ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ “ إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَمَلُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ ثَلاَثَةٍ مِنْ صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ وَعِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ وَوَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ ”.
Abu Hurairah I narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a man dies all his good deeds come to an end except three: Ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge and a righteous son who prays for him.”
[Narrated in Sunan al-Nasa’i]
Examples of Sadaqah Jariyah
- Donating towards the construction of a mosque, hospital or orphanage.
- Donating to a charity.
- Purchasing and distributing Islamic literature.
- Teaching someone Quran, Hadith or another type of knowledge.
- Sponsoring a child’s education.
- Sponsoring an orphan.
- Digging a water well for the benefit of the local population.
