The Importance and Types of Sadaqah Jariyah

Ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah) is considered one of the noblest deeds and greatest acts of devotion in Islam. It's a continuous investment in good that extends its impact and reward even after a person departs from this world. It's like a flowing river of good deeds that nourishes its giver in their grave and on the Day of Judgment, leaving a continuous mark of goodness in the lives of others and society as a whole.

The Importance of Ongoing Charity (Sadaqah Jariyah) in Islam

The importance of ongoing charity lies in the continuity of its benefit and reward, which distinguishes it from ordinary charity whose reward ends once its direct benefit ceases. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged this type of charity in numerous hadiths, most notably his saying: "When a person dies, all their deeds cease except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which others benefit, or a righteous child who prays for them." This noble hadith clarifies the great status of ongoing charity, showing it as one of the few deeds that continues to bring reward to its doer even after their death.

Benefits and Fruits of Ongoing Charity

Ongoing charity offers numerous benefits that accrue to both the giver and society. Among the most prominent are:

• Attaining Allah's Pleasure and a Good End: Charity extinguishes the wrath of the Lord and wards off a bad death.
• Increase and Blessing in Wealth: Contrary to what some might think, charity does not decrease wealth but rather increases it in blessing and growth, as Allah Almighty has promised.
• Shade on the Day of Judgment: Ongoing charity will be a shade for its giver on the Day of Judgment, a day when there is no shade except His.
• Expiation of Sins and Wrongdoings: Charity contributes to purifying the soul from sins.
• Benefit for the Deceased: A Muslim can give ongoing charity on behalf of their deceased loved ones, and its reward will reach them, becoming a light and mercy for them.
• Achieving Social Solidarity: Ongoing charity helps meet the needs of the poor and needy, strengthening bonds of love and cooperation among community members.
• Community Development and Prosperity: This is achieved through sustainable charitable projects that provide essential services such as education, healthcare, and shelter.
• Spreading Knowledge: When charity is in the field of spreading beneficial knowledge, its impact extends for generations.
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Types of Ongoing Charity

The forms and types of ongoing charity are diverse, and every charitable act whose benefit continues for people is considered part of this great door. Among its most prominent types are:

• Providing Water: Providing water is considered one of the best types of charity, including digging wells, establishing water desalination plants, providing water coolers in public places, and extending water connections to needy homes.
• Building Mosques and Places of Worship: A mosque is a place for prayer, remembrance, and religious education, and its reward continues as long as it is utilized.
• Building Schools and Educational Institutions: Educating people in beneficial knowledge is one of the greatest acts of devotion, and its reward continues as long as generations continue to learn from it.
• Building Hospitals and Health Centers: Providing healthcare for the sick and alleviating their pain is a noble humanitarian act whose benefit continues.
• Planting Fruit-Bearing Trees: Humans, animals, and birds benefit from their shade and fruit, and every time someone eats from it, the giver receives a reward.
• Endowing Copies of the Quran and Beneficial Books: Printing and distributing copies of the Quran, as well as useful religious and scientific books, for readers to benefit from.
• Sponsoring Orphans and Students of Knowledge: Providing care and support for orphans until they mature, and helping students of knowledge complete their studies, are noble deeds whose benefit continues.
• Establishing Charitable Endowments (Awqaf): This involves dedicating a financial asset (such as real estate or a farm) whose proceeds are permanently spent on various charitable endeavors.
• Building Shelters and Care Homes: Providing shelter for the homeless, the poor, orphans, and the elderly.
• Developing Sustainable Development Projects: Such as establishing small projects for needy families that generate ongoing income for them.

Indeed, the doors of ongoing charity are vast and varied, and they are not limited to large sums of money. Every Muslim can contribute what they can, even if it's a little, for Allah blesses the little if the intention is sincere. Ongoing charity is not just a financial donation; it is a long-term vision for doing good and a pursuit of leaving a good legacy that continues even after the body perishes, serving as a testament to sincere faith and a diligent effort to please Allah and serve His creation.