The Essence of the Holy Qur’an

CEASELESS CHARITY (SADAQAH JARIYAH)

“Indeed, the men who practise charity and the women who practise charity and [they who] have loaned Allah a goodly loan – it will be multiplied for them, and they will have a noble reward.” (Hadid, 57/18)

Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Ceaseless charity (sadaqah jariyah) is to leave behind a charity to be benefitted by people for generations. It is to turn the goods and wealth, which are the blessings of Allah, into worship. It is to prefer generosity and benevolence over selfishness and worldly desires. It is a virtuous act to use what we have for the benefit of society instead of wasting and consuming them for ourselves only. It is to make the temporary worldly blessings an occasion for earning eternal life. It ensures the permanence of our good deeds, charitable works, and aids, and provides their rewards to be continuous. In this sense, ceaseless charity actually means to do a favour to ourselves in the future as well as today.

Almighty Lord (s.w.t.) says in the Holy Qur’an, “And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the countenance of Allah. And whatever you spend of good – it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.” In that sense, any act of goodness that builds the future means investing in the Hereafter and this world.
Sadaqah jariyah refers to the endeavour to do charitable works without being limited to a particular time or place. It indicates the wish to ensure that one’s book of deeds continues to record the deeds even after death. This is explained by the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) as follows, “When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah jariyah, knowledge by which people benefit, and a pious descendant who prays for him.” Islamic civilization has for centuries been the pioneer of charity, goodness, benevolence, and beneficence. Many mosques, fountains, hospitals, libraries, bridges and schools built by our ancestors with the intention of offering a ceaseless charity continue to keep goodness alive in our lives today.

Jobayer Al Mahmud