Good Deeds that Outlast Death | 5 Types of Sadaqah Jariyah
“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)
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.
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.
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)
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.
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)