Sadaqah Jariyah is an ongoing charity and is a kind of Waqf (endowment), as mentioned in the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), in which the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) 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)].

Imam An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said, commenting on this hadith:
“Ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) is a type of waqf (endowment).” [Sharh Muslim (11/85)]

Al-Khatib ash-Sharbini (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “According to the scholars, ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) is understood to refer to the waqf, as ar-Rafi‘i said. Other types of charity are not ongoing.” [Mughni al-Muhtaj (3/522-523)]

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 a reward so long as that institution continues to benefit people.

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.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that he 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.” Narrated by Ibn Majah (242). Al-Mundhiri said in at-Targhib wa’t-Tarhib (1/78): Its isnad is Hasan. It was also classed as Hasan by al-Albani in Sahih Ibn Majah.

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.

And Allah knows best.