Sadaqah Jariyah: The Continuous Gift of Hope
Sadaqah Jariyah has many benefits and rewards in this life and the next. In this article, we will focus on how Sadaqah Jariyah can help us hold on to hope this Ramadan.
First: here's a quick definition of Sadaqah Jariyah:
Sadaqah Jariyah literally means 'a continuous, flowing charity'. Whereas Sadaqah benefits the receiver on one occasion, Sadaqah Jariyah will benefit the receiver on multiple occasions. For example, it is Sadaqah to give a poor person one bowl of olives, but it is Sadaqah Jariyah to plant an olive tree that will be of benefit for generations to come. Likewise, it is Sadaqah to give someone a glass of water, but it is Sadaqah Jariyah to build a well.
Furthermore, you will continue to gain reward for Sadaqah Jariyah for as long as people benefit from it - i.e. as long as they continue to use the olive tree or water well. Even after you have passed away, you will continue to gain reward from it:
‘When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (continuing charity), knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him’. [Muslim]
This is a truly stunning example of Allah's Mercy and Generosity towards us. We have only done one good action - planting a tree or building a well - but Allah rewards us on multiple occasions. Allah doesn't forget this single good deed even after we have passed away.
Sadaqah Jariyah: A Continuous Gift of Hope from Allah
So how does Sadaqah Jariyah help us hold on to hope?
Our time on this earth is limited and terribly busy. Most of us spend about a third of each day sleeping and a third of each day working. Add in eating, running errands, commuting and just sitting down to take a breath and relax, and we have barely any time left at all. The time we have for praying, making du'a or giving charity is so small. In the blink of an eye, our life passes us by.
And yet - our opportunity to be successful in this life doesn't have to end. Our chance to please Allah and earn His reward doesn't end when we pass away. Sadaqah Jariyah means that while we are in our graves, incapable of doing anything, we are still gaining rewards.
Sadaqah Jariyah is a gift of hope from Allah to us. It is a way to earn far more good deeds than we would ever have the time to perform on this earth.
There are some people who will ask Allah, on their deathbeds, to give them a little more time so they can give charity. But giving Sadaqah Jariyah means that, when death comes, you will be able to pass away in peace, knowing that Allah, the most Merciful and Generous, has not finished recording your good deeds yet.
Sadaqah Jariyah allows us to hold on to this hope. In fact, Allah is pleased with us for being hopeful, for having faith in His generosity:
‘Verily, thinking well about Allah is a part of the excellent worship of Allah’. [Tirmidhi]
Sadaqah Jariyah: A Gift of Comfort During Grief
As if it is not enough that your single good deed can give you years of rewards…
You can also give this beautiful gift of hope to your loved ones who have passed away, ensuring they have the chance to earn rewards even in their graves.
SubhanAllah, this is such a powerful example of Allah's mercy and compassion towards us. In Ramadan especially, we miss our loved ones who have passed away and wish we could be close to them once again. So Allah has given us a way to be close to them. Allah has given us a way to bring them happiness and delight in their graves.
Sadaqah Jariyah is thus a gift of hope from Allah to you, in your time of grief. When we give on behalf of our loved ones, we can feel comforted, knowing we have brought them happiness in their graves.
Sadaqah Jariyah: A Truly Valuable and Successful Investment
The worldly investments we make can only bring us fleeting comfort and pleasure, because we can't take them with us after we have passed away. It is better to have hope in Allah's reward than the rewards of investment returns or dividends:
'Do not be consumed with acquiring property, such that you place your hope in the world'. [Tirmidhi]
Giving Sadaqah Jariyah is a far more valuable and hopeful action than 'acquiring property'. Whatever wealth we have, it is better to invest it in the afterlife rather than in this world. A Sadaqah Jariyah investment is a truly successful investment, because success is defined by earning Allah's pleasure, not earning any material comfort.
Sadaqah Jariyah: Three Ideas to Start You Off
I know what you're thinking - you want to start investing in Sadaqah Jariyah straight away, so you don't miss out on these amazing rewards! Here are three ideas to start you off:
Build a water well
On the authority of Sa'd bin Ubadah that he said, 'O Messenger of Allah! Umm (mother of) Sa‘d has died, so which charity is best?' He (saw) replied, '[Providing] water'. So [Sa’d] dug a well and said, 'This (well) is for Umm Sa‘d'. [Abu Dawud]
Giving clean water improves health, agriculture, education and livelihoods and ultimately saves lives. It is also a Sunnah recommendation to provide water on behalf of loved ones who have passed away.
Give a livelihood
The Prophet (saw) said, ‘Nobody has ever eaten a better meal than (a meal) which he earned from the work of his own hands. The Prophet of Allah, David (as), used to eat from the work of his own hands’. [Bukhari]
Our livelihoods projects give poverty-stricken people ‘a hand-up, not a hand-out’. This Sadaqah Jariyah helps people provide for their families for years to come, transforming their lives:
The above story shows the huge difference a livelihood project can make to a poverty-stricken family. In a few months, Fati's three goats will multiply, and she can start selling more milk and goats and grow her business. This simple gift has transformed her life.
Illuminate Masjid Al-Aqsa
The Messenger of Allah (saw) was asked, ‘If one of us cannot visit it (Masjid Al-Aqsa), what should we do?’ He (saw) said, 'Then he should make a gift of some oil to be lit therein [in its lamps]. For indeed the one who gifts this to it, will be like the one who has prayed therein'. [Ahmad]
Help us replace the old, hazardous wiring in Masjid Al-Aqsa with a state-of-the-art lighting system which will benefit worshippers for years to come. It's our biggest Sadaqah Jariyah project ever!
Sadaqah Jariyah: Share the Blessings!
We hope this article helps you hold on to hope this Ramadan! Check out some more of our Sadaqah Jariyah projects and also our bigger Major Giving projects. If you want to give Sadaqah Jariyah in the last 10 nights of Ramadan, you can automate your donations using Best 10 Nights.
Also, do you want to gain Sadaqah Jariyah rewards in less than 30 seconds? Share this article with friends and family! Hopefully, they will give some Sadaqah Jariyah, and the Prophet (saw) said, ‘Whoever guides someone to goodness will have a reward like one who did it’. [Muslim]
