Perpetual Charity

Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) is charity whose original asset is preserved while its benefits continue, such as digging a well, dedicating a house as an endowment, building a mosque, or similar charitable acts. There is no disagreement that its reward reaches the deceased, whether established through their own efforts or those of others.

As a general principle, the reward for a deed belongs to the person who performs it. Dedicating that reward to someone else, or acting on behalf of another person, whether living or deceased, requires evidence from Islamic teachings to establish its validity. The evidence that the reward of ongoing charity reaches the deceased is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “When a person dies, their deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, knowledge from which others benefit, or a righteous child who prays for them.”