“Certainly, those men and women who give charity and lend to Allah a good loan will have it multiplied for them, and they will have an honorable reward.”
Islam is a faith deeply rooted in kindness, benevolence, and compassion, and it places great emphasis on cultivating love and generosity. It embodies principles that encourage individuals to become their best selves when practiced sincerely. One such principle is sadaqa, also known as sadaqa e jariya, which entails voluntarily giving charity or donations. However, sadaqa or sadaqa e jariya is not merely about giving; it also strengthens our bond with Allah SWT and serves as a meaningful act of solidarity with those in need.
Meaning Of Sadaqa
Mu’adh bin Jabal narrated that the Prophet PBUH stated that charity extinguishes sin as water extinguishes fire.
The term sadaqah (charity), originating from the Arabic language, means righteousness. In the context of Islam, it refers to a virtuous act performed sincerely out of kindness and good intention, without expecting any reward in return. Although it is not a mandatory requirement, it is highly recommended. Sadaqah is not limited to monetary or material donations; it can take various forms, as long as it benefits others. For example, in one of his hadiths, the Prophet PBUH tells what non-monetary deeds are considered to be charity in Islam.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Every joint in the human body has an obligatory charity (sadaqah) to be given each day the sun rises as a sign of gratitude to Allah SWT. The act of judging fairly between two people is considered sadaqah. Helping a person with his riding animal—by assisting him to mount it or by lifting his luggage onto it—is also regarded as sadaqah. Speaking a good word is likewise sadaqah. Each step you take toward performing the obligatory prayer in the mosque counts as sadaqah, and removing something harmful from the path is also considered sadaqah.”
Meaning Of Sadaqa e Jariya
Sadaqa e jariya is an extension of sadaqah. Whereas the normal sadaqah only gives rewards when the sadaqah is being given, sadaqa e jariya, on the other hand, offers rewards even after death. It is charity, but the word ‘jariya’ translates to ‘continued,’ and therefore, sadaqa e jariya is a continued form of charity that reaps rewards even after the initial act has been committed. This kind of sadaqah isn’t restricted to rewards in this dunya but may also benefit them in the hereafter.
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah said, When a person passes away, all their good deeds cease, except for three: continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them.
The case with a righteous child is that whenever the child commits a good deed, the parents will continue to receive the rewards, whether the child makes an intention for them to receive the rewards or not.
Example of Sadaqa e Jariya From The Hadith
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar reported that Umar bin Khattab acquired some land in Khaibar, and he approached the Prophet (PBUH) to seek his advice.
He said, “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), I have received some wealth from Khaibar, and nothing has been more precious to me than this wealth. What do you command I do with it?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “If you wish, you can turn it into an endowment and donate its produce as charity.” Umar then arranged for it to be an endowment with the condition that it would not be sold, given away, or inherited. Its produce was to be used to help the poor and relatives, to free slaves in the cause of Allah, for travelers, and for guests. It was also permissible for a person in charge of it to consume a reasonable amount or feed a friend from it without accumulating wealth for themselves.
Other Examples Of Sadaq e Jariya
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “The rewards of good deeds that a believer will receive after his passing include knowledge he shared and spread; a righteous son he leaves behind; a copy of the Qur’an he designated as his legacy; a mosque he constructed; a house he built for travelers; a canal he dug; or charity he gave while healthy during his life. These acts will benefit him even after his death.”
From this hadith, it is clear that sadaqa e jariya can take many forms and will benefit the deceased. Such as,
Constructing A Mosque
When one builds a mosque, not only are they performing an act of sadaqa e jariya, but they are also fulfilling the sunnah of the Prophet PBUH, as he also used to build places of worship.
Planting A Tree
If a person plants a tree and anyone benefits from it, they will receive the reward for it. Whenever a person sits in its shade or eats its fruit, the reward will reach the person who planted it. The tree doesn’t even need to bear fruit; it can simply be a normal tree that provides shade and wind, and it will be considered sadaqa e jariya with the will of Allah.
Building A Water Well
Water is one of the most basic necessities of life, and many people lack access to it on a daily basis. Building a water well or providing people with access to clean water is one of the most effective ways to perform sadaqa e jariya.
Distributing A Copy Of The Quran
Distributing a copy of the Quran or a book of duas is another excellent way to perform continued charity and invest in the hereafter. Every time someone reads from the book, the person who donated it will benefit from it. Moreover, one doesn’t have to stop at a copy of the Quran or a book of duas; they can also donate other religious materials, such as prayer mats and tasbihs.