“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.” (Sunan an-Nasa’i)
The recent passing of Malaysian songstress Siti Sarah Raissuddin has not only grieved the hearts of many but also made us reflect on our own preparation for the afterlife as more and more stories of her good deeds and charities began to surface online.
One day, we will all die too. It’s our good deeds that will follow us to the grave. So while we are still alive, let’s make the most out of our life and prepare for the journey ahead.
Here are five acts of sadaqah jariyah that you can do to gain immeasurable rewards from Allah in this world and the next.
1) Give someone a copy of the Qur’an or waqaf one to a mosque
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever recites a letter from the Book of Allah, he will be credited with a good deed, and a good deed gets a ten-fold reward. I do not say that Alif-Lam-Mim is one letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter.” (Tirmidhi)
If reading the Qur’an yourself is rewarded tenfold, imagine how magnificent the reward that you will get every time a person reads the Qur’an you give. The beauty of sadaqah jariyah is that, just as the nature of the sadaqah is continuous, and so is the nature of the reward. You will continue to reap the reward for as long as the recipients read the Qur’an.
Multiply the reward manyfold when you waqaf a copy of the Qur’an in Masjidil Haram, Makkah.
Learn more at Waqaf A Quran In Masjid al-Haram In Makkah.
One will receive magnificent rewards every time a person reads the Qur’an they give.
The same applies when you donate other items that can benefit others in the long run such as tasbih, books, prayer mats, clothing, and medical equipment.
Aid remote villagers in Indonesia get access to medical treatment by donating speed sea ambulances. Learn more at Sea Ambulance: Emergency Medical Assistance.
2) Provide for an orphan
Orphans are mentioned 22 times in the Qur’an. They also held an exceptional place in the Prophet Muhammad’s heart as he was himself an orphan.
If you are met with an opportunity to look after an orphan and provide for them, grab it at the drop of a hat as those who do so have a special place in Paradise.
Allah loves those who take care of the orphans.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this – putting his index and middle fingers together.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Make a difference in the lives of orphans and underprivileged children in Johor by supporting their education. Learn more at Support Education for Orphans and Underprivileged Children.
3) Partake in the building of a mosque, school, or hospital
One of the best ways to do sadaqah jariyah is by contributing to the building of a mosque.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Whoever builds a Masjid for (the sake of) Allah, then Allah will build a similar house for him in Paradise.” (Tirmidhi)
The power of sadaqah jariyah is that you shall continue to reap the reward for as long as others benefit from your sadaqah jariyah.
Similar to the building of a mosque, you can also contribute towards the building of a school or a hospital, or any facilities that will benefit the communities. You shall get a fraction of the reward for every single prayer performed in the mosque; every single knowledge shared in the school and every single patient being treated in the hospital.
Help build a mosque in one of the poorest regions of Northern Nigeria with large Muslim populations. Learn more at Building Africa’s First Masjid Using Only Cryptos.
4) Plant a tree
Did you know that trees do prostrate to Allah?
“And the stars and trees prostrate.” (Ar-Rahman: 6)
Planting a tree is a sadaqah jariyah too as the tree would then grow to provide shade to the passerby or nourishment if it yields produce such as fruits, and oxygen to the environment for as long as it stands – meaning you shall receive an ongoing reward for as long as it stands, too.
“If any Muslim plants any plant and a human being or an animal eats of it, he will be rewarded as if he had given that much in charity.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Plant a tree and receive a bountiful reward from Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “If the Final Hour comes while you have a shoot of a plant in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you should plant it.” (Al-Albani)
5) Give water
Water is a basic necessity in life, yet not everyone has access to it, let alone clean one. Giving water is a highly recommended act in Islam. In fact, the Prophet said it is the best form of sadaqah.
When Umm Sa’d died, Sa’d ibn Ubadah asked the Prophet ﷺ, ‘What form of sadaqah is best?’ He replied, ‘Water (is best).’ He dug a well and said, ‘It is for Umm Sa’d.’ (Al-Albani)
Related: Give Sadaqah via These 7 Online Charity Platforms
Among the acts and good deeds that will reach a believer after his death is the canal that he dug.
From bringing a guest something to drink to building a well in a deprived area, those who give water for the sake of Allah will surely find their reward with Him.
To sum it up, sadaqah jariyah, a continuous and ongoing charity, is one of the most rewarding acts we can do during our lifetime as we can reap the rewards in this world and the next. It’s one of the three good deeds that outlasts death.
Invest in your hereafter by donating towards one of our sadaqah jariyah campaigns today.