Sadaqah Jariyah: Meaning, Examples and How to Give

Sadaqah is voluntary charity. Jariyah means "flowing" or "continuing". So sadaqah jariyah is charity whose benefit keeps flowing after you have given it, and whose reward, by Allah's mercy, can continue even after you have passed away.

The hadith of three deeds that continue

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: "When a man dies, his acts come to an end", except for three: a recurring charity (sadaqah jariyah), knowledge from which people benefit, and a righteous child who prays for him (Sahih Muslim 1631, meaning of the rest of the hadith).

This hadith shows that while most of our deeds stop at death, some keep earning reward. Sadaqah jariyah is one of the easiest of these to begin today.

Allah multiplies what you give

مَّثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمۡوَٰلَهُمۡ فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنۢبَتَتۡ سَبۡعَ سَنَابِلَ فِي كُلِّ سُنۢبُلَةٖ مِّاْئَةُ حَبَّةٖۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُضَٰعِفُ لِمَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allāh is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allāh multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing." (Quran 2:261. Translation: Saheeh International)

Giving for a parent or loved one who has died

Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah asked the Prophet ﷺ which charity was best after his mother, Umm Sa'd, had died. The Prophet ﷺ said: water. So Sa'd dug a well and said: "It is for Umm Sa'd." (Sunan Abi Dawud 1681, graded hasan by al-Albani)

This is why many families today build a water well or hand pump in the name of a parent or grandparent who has passed away.

Examples of sadaqah jariyah

Any good that keeps benefiting people over time can be a form of ongoing charity. Common examples include:

• Water: funding a well, hand pump or water filter for a community.
• Knowledge: paying for a child's Islamic or school education, sponsoring a Quran teacher, or sharing beneficial books and resources.
• The Quran: giving copies of the Mushaf to a mosque, madrasah or new Muslim, or sharing a free Quran download so others can read it.
• Places of worship and learning: contributing to building or maintaining a mosque, school or madrasah.
• Trees and food: planting fruit trees or funding projects that help families grow their own food.
• Healthcare: helping to fund a clinic, medical equipment or eye operations.

Teaching someone to read the Quran, or sharing knowledge that they act on, is also connected to the second deed in the hadith: "knowledge from which people benefit".

Sadaqah jariyah vs Zakat

	Zakat	Sadaqah jariyah
Obligation	Obligatory on those who meet the conditions	Voluntary
Amount	Usually 2.5% of zakatable wealth	Any amount
Who can receive it	Only the eight groups named in the Quran	Wider: projects that benefit people generally
When	Once a year on your Zakat date	Any time

Many water wells, mosques and schools are funded as sadaqah, not Zakat. If you want to use Zakat money for a project, check with the charity and a scholar that it is Zakat-eligible. For the rules of Zakat, read Zakat explained.

Tips for giving wisely

• Give through a registered charity. In the UK, you can check a charity on the Charity Commission register.
• Ask for updates. Good charities send photos or reports once a well or project is completed.
• Give little and often. The Prophet ﷺ said that "the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464). A small monthly donation adds up.
• Plan for Ramadan. Many people save their biggest giving for Ramadan and the last ten nights.
• Keep your intention sincere and give for the sake of Allah alone.

This guide gives general information only. For questions about your own giving, please consult a qualified scholar. Preparing for the holy month? See our Ramadan preparation checklist.