Ongoing charity
Sadaqah jariyah, the charity that keeps going
A gift whose good carries on long after you give it. What counts, where it comes from, and how to pick one that lasts.
What sadaqah jariyah means
Charity whose good keeps flowing: a well, a tree, a school, knowledge taught.
Jariyah means running, like water. A meal feeds someone once; a well serves a village for years.
See how to help build a masjid, with each stage shown.
When a person dies, their deeds stop except for three: an ongoing charity, knowledge that is benefited from, or a righteous child who prays for them.
Kinds of sadaqah jariyah
Water
A well or tap that serves for years (Sahih al-Bukhari 2778).
Trees
Anything people or animals eat from (Sahih al-Bukhari 2320).
Knowledge
Teaching that others benefit from (Sahih Muslim 1631).
A mosque
Even a share of one (Sahih al-Bukhari 450).
And more
Shelter, endowments, a mushaf: all the kinds.
Give sadaqah jariyah well
Questions about sadaqah jariyah
How is it different from sadaqah?
All sadaqah is voluntary charity. Sadaqah jariyah is the kind whose benefit carries on, the first of the three things in Sahih Muslim 1631.
Does it have to be expensive?
No. A tree that people or animals eat from counts (Sahih al-Bukhari 2320), and so does a share in a bigger project.
Can I give it for my parents?
Yes: charity given for a parent who has died reaches them (Sahih al-Bukhari 2760). See giving for someone who has died.