Class 5
BEST FORM OF CHARITY
Sadaqah Jariyah: The continuous charity
Ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) is a charity the reward of which continues after a person dies. As for the charity of which the reward does not continue, such as charity in the form of food given to a poor person, that is not ongoing charity.
Based on that, giving iftar to those who are fasting, sponsoring orphans and taking care of the elderly – although these are acts of charity – are not ongoing charity. But you can contribute to the building of an orphanage or home for seniors, and that will be an ongoing charity for which you will earn reward so long as that institution continues to benefit people.
If the charity is something that will be ongoing until after the giver dies , even if it is little, because if something continues and accumulates it becomes great.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When a man dies, all his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), beneficial knowledge, or a righteous son who will pray for him” (Narrated by Muslim, 1631)
Types of Sadaqah Jariyah
Types and examples of ongoing charity are many, including: building mosques, planting trees, digging wells, printing and distributing Mus-hafs, and spreading beneficial knowledge by producing books and tapes and distributing them.
The Prophet ﷺ said, “Among the good deeds the reward of which will reach a believer after his death are: knowledge which he learned and then spread; a righteous son whom he leaves behind; a copy of the Quran that he leaves as a legacy; a mosque that he built; a house that he built for wayfarers; a canal that he dug; or charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death.” (Ibn Majah classed as hasan by al-Albani).
So let us give some examples…
1. Building Masjids
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Whoever builds a Masjid for Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”
Every single prayer, every word of the Quran, every gathering, every dua – the reward will flow to you like a never-ending river of blessings.
2. Institutions of Good (Schools or Hospitals):
Establishing enduring structures that serve the community, providing spaces for worship, education, and healthcare, with benefits persisting over time.
3. Teaching Someone a Valuable Skill.
Empowering individuals with practical skills that enhance their livelihoods and contribute to their long-term well-being.
4. Donating to build dig a well.
You can donate to dig a borewell at Masjids where there is not enough water supply. Or for open areas in small villages where people can just benefit. Usually these wells last decades Alhamdulillah so the reward would be ongoing InShaAllah.
5. Teaching Valuable Knowledge
Sharing and teaching knowledge or skill that you might have, to people so they can benefit and get better either for this life or the next.
6. Planting a Tree
Participating in environmental stewardship by planting trees, contributing to ecological balance and sustainable development.
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“Whenever Muslims plant a tree, they will earn the reward of charity because of the food that comes from it; and likewise, what is stolen from it, what the wild beasts eat out of it, what the birds eat out of it, and what people take from it is charity for them” (Sahih Muslim)
“Muslims will always earn the reward of charity for planting a tree, sowing a crop and then birds, humans, and animals eat from it” (Bukhari & Muslim)
7. Creating Homes or Shelters for People or Animals:
Building durable and safe structures to provide shelter and refuge for individuals or animals in need.
8. Dawah
To Muslims & Non-Muslims, to Muslims to enjoin good and forbid evil, the good they implement by your reminders will all be recorded in your good deeds as well and this can have a chain effect, if they teach it to others and they implement it those are all recorded in your account as well as theirs InShaAllah. So call Muslims to good, ask them to start implementing any of the forgotten Sunnahs, call them to establish Salah or any of the good deeds. The Prophet ﷺ said, ““Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to those who follow him, without detracting from their rewards at all. Whoever calls to misguidance will have sin upon him similar to those who follow him, without detracting from their sins at all.” (Sahih Muslim)
The same or more can be said about giving Dawah to a non-Muslim. Think of the following situation: you give da’wah to a non-Muslim friend who at the age of 19 or 20 becomes a Muslim with the guidance of Allah. After a few years, that friend may settle down with another Muslim and In sha Allah have children who are raised on this deen as well as themselves having a long and pious life. Then a portion of the reward achieved by all these individuals would come back into your book of deeds. They might give Dawah to their families and they might revert and all of that is added up. The reward of Dawah is something we cannot imagine, just keep in mind that Allah’s treasures are infinite.
What is the best way to give sadaqah?
The Muslim should give his charity to several causes, so that he will have a share of the reward from different sources. So you could allocate some of your wealth to providing iftar for those who are fasting, another part for sponsoring orphans, a third part to support a seniors’ home, a fourth part to contribute to the building of a mosque, a fifth part to distributing books and Mus-hafs, and so on.
WAYS TO INCREASE REWARDS FOR CHARITY
Charity is increased and multiplied in different situations, including the following:
Giving in Secret
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are seven whom Allah, may He be Exalted, will shade with His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His … A man who gives charity and conceals it to the extent that his left hand does not know what his right hand is giving.” (Sahih Bukhari)
When it is done at times and in places that are of special virtue
Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was the most generous of people, and he was at his most generous in Ramadan. (Sahih Bukhari)
Giving Charity while Fasting, Attending Funerals and Visiting the Sick.
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding these four: “These qualities (Chairty, Fasting, attending funeral and visiting the sick) are not combined in a man but he will enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim)
Charity given by a Pious Scholar
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are four types of people in this world: a person whom Allah blesses with wealth and knowledge, so he fears his Lord with regard to them, uses them to upholds his ties of kinship, and knows that Allah has rights over them. This is the most virtuous of ranks...” (At-Tirmidhi; classed as authentic by Al-Albani)
Giving it at the time when wealth is abundant and don’t want to give
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah, which charity brings the greatest reward? He ﷺ said: “Charity that you give when you are healthy and reluctant to give , fearing poverty and hoping to become wealthy, and you do not delay it until the soul reaches the throat, and you say, ‘Such and such is for So-and-so, and such and such is for So-and-so,’ when it is already for so-and-so.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Giving to one whose need is great
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved of deeds to Allah, may He be Exalted, is that bringing joy to a Muslim, or relieving him of distress, or paying off his debts, or dispelling his hunger.” (At-Tabarani; classed as sound by Al-Albani)
BEST CHARITY
Giving it to a relative, and it increases in virtue if it is given to an estranged relative.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best charity is charity given to a relative who bears a grudge.” (Narrated by Ahmad; classed as authentic by Al-Albani)
Providing Water
The Prophet ﷺ was asked: Which kind of charity is best? He ﷺ said: “Providing water.” (Narrated by An-Nasa’i, 3664; classed as sound by Al-Albani)
Giving a pair of any type of thing
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever gives a pair of any type of thing in Allah’s cause will be called from the gates of Paradise: O slave of Allah, this is good!” (Sahih Bukhari)
When it is dear to its owner
Allah, says: “Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. And whatever you spend - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it”. (Al `Imran 3:92)
In the case of charity, it is recommended that what is given should be from among the best of the giver’s wealth and the dearest to him.
Al-Qurtubi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The early generations (the Salaf) – may Allah be pleased with them – if they loved something, they would give it for the sake of Allah, may He be Exalted.”
Spending on one’s family
The Prophet ﷺ said: “A Dinar that you spend for the sake of Allah, a Dinar that you spend to free a slave, a Dinar that you give in charity to a needy person and a Dinar that you spend on your family – the greatest of them in reward is the one that you spend on your family .” (Sahih Muslim)
Giving Zakah on time and offering Sacrifice on Eid ul Adha
As the most rewarding are those that are Fard.
Visit the Sick
The Prophet ﷺ said,
“There is no Muslim who visits a (sick) Muslim in the morning, but seventy thousand angels will send blessings upon him until the evening comes, and if he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels will send blessings upon him until morning comes, and he will have a garden in Paradise.” (Tirmidhi; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
“Whoever visits a sick person will remain in an orchard of Paradise.” It was said: O Messenger of Allaah, what is an orchard of Paradise? He ﷺ said: “The reward is Paradise and its fruits.” (Sahih Muslim). (al-Nawawi said: i.e., that will bring him to Paradise where he will harvest its fruits).
SubhaanAllah great rewards, also note visiting a sick Muslim is one of the rights he/she has on the other Muslim. Helping the one who is sick and serving him/her is an act of charity. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Helping a man onto his mount or lifting up his luggage onto it is a charity.” (Sahih Muslim).
The same applies to helping the person himself, carrying him/her or helping him/her to walk or sleep, or treating him. Providing emotional support, companionship, and practical assistance to those who are unwell are all acts of compassion and charity. We should read the famous story of Abu Bakr R.A. where he would visit an old lady and tend to her needs, comb her hair and do her house chores as an act of charity.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Those who show mercy will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Show mercy to those who are on earth and the One Who is in heaven will show mercy to you.” (Abu Dawood & Tirmidhi; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)
Sponsor an Orphan
The Prophet ﷺ said: “I and the one who sponsors an orphan will be like this in Paradise,” and he gestured with his forefinger and middle finger, holding them slightly apart. (Bukhaari & Muslim).
A man complained to the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ of his hardheartedness, and he ﷺ said to him: “If you want to soften your heart, then feed the poor and pat the head of the orphan.” (Ahmad; classed as hasan by al-Albaani).
Sponsoring and taking care of a Widow
The Prophet ﷺ said, "The one who looks after a widow and a poor person is like the one who strives in the path of Allah, or like the one who fasts all the day and stands (in prayer) all the night." (Tirmidhi & Nisai’i; classed as Sahih)
Tomorrow we will InShaAllah read about the Rulings of Charity & FAQs.
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the rewards of Charity in this world and the next.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
III. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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