Question:
What is the best Sadaqah Jāriyah (continuing charity) for the deceased?
Answer:
The most abundant and beneficial for him and more lasting. Every time it is more lasting for him and its reward for him. For the Mushaf is Sadaqah Jāriyah. So if it becomes lost or destroyed or what is of this nature it is not like other than it of what is more lasting.
The best charity is providing water to drink especially if they remain in need of it and it’s benefit continues, like a well in which the people drink from. Or a Masjid in which the people pray in, or a library donated to the people or a place where people can read and benefit from.
And from the best Sadaqah Jāriyah is Da’wah unto Allah and knowledge. For verily it’s benefit continues so it is considered Sadaqah from himself to himself, and it’s benefit is continuous.
For verily knowledge spreads amongst the people, and every time a person benefits from it, the one who guided to it has the reward similar to the one who benefited from it.
For if Bukhāri had built a well it would of been undetermined. Or if he built a Masjid it would of been undetermined. Or had he endowed a Mushaf perhaps it would have become ripped or destroyed. But his knowledge which is present in which he exerted his efforts for and his truthfulness and sincerity in it became manifested became the best of Sadaqah, it’s benefit returns to him.
And in Sahīh Muslim from the Hadith of Abī Hurairah may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet ﷺ;
إِذَا مَاتَ الإنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عنْه عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِن ثَلَاثَةٍ: إِلَّا مِن صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو له.
“When a person dies his deeds are cut off from him except three. Sadaqah Jāriyah, or knowledge in which the people benefit from, or a righteous child who makes duā for him.”
And knowledge is also from that which its benefit continues and it enters into Sadaqah Jāriyah. For every Ma’rūf is Sadaqah, and knowledge is from the most virtuous of Ma’rūf.
And likewise a righteous child, as long as he is alive then verily his good remains poring forth on his father while he is in his grave and the reward is coming to him and his rank is being raised.
He said how did I get this? Due to the seeking forgiveness of your son for you.
So what is apparent is that the benefit of knowledge is greater for one who is truthful and sincere with Allah and strives from the angle that he comes to the people with beneficial knowledge which continues. So he is granted success to righteous actions which he perseveres for and is truthful with his Lord for and benefits the Muslims and its benefit remains. This by Allah is good.
And it is not considered Sadaqah Jāriyah except if it is accompanied by sincerity. From the one giving it in charity. Due to the Hadith of Abī Hurairah may Allāh be pleased with him that the Prophet said ﷺ, Allah said;
قالَ اللَّهُ تَبارَكَ وتَعالَى: أنا أغْنَى الشُّرَكاءِ عَنِ الشِّرْكِ، مَن عَمِلَ عَمَلًا أشْرَكَ فيه مَعِي غيرِي، تَرَكْتُهُ وشِرْكَهُ.
“I am the most self-sufficient from having partners. So whoever does an action associating with it me with other than me I disregard it and his partner.”
So it it doesn’t benefit him if he intends by this Sadaqah Jāriyah the praise of the people or to be mentioned. Whether it be a Masjid, or house for the poor, or land also, or a well, or beneficial knowledge-based books. It doesn’t benefit except with sincerity and correcting ones intention.
And it is not considered Sadaqah Jāriyah except if it is following the Prophet ﷺ and it is not a newly invented matter. As for if it is innovated Sadaqah like to say this money is designated for reading Quran upon me, he makes money continuous in his benefit, either from his business transactions, or his farm or the likes of that.
For verily this doesn’t reach him. And Sadaqah Jāriyah is not in something newly invented or other than that from the newly invented matters (in religion).
And likewise in sins also, if he endowed a field of Qāt (a narcotic plant considered a drug stimulant) and said this is for the needy to eat, this is my intention. Nothing reaches him from it, and it is not a beneficial Sadaqah Jāriyah except if it is in obedience to Allah.
Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him
Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/8422
Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi