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Sadaqah Jariyah is not just charity, it is an ongoing investment in good that continues to grow over time.
The Qur’an describes charity as something that multiplies far beyond what we give:
“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven ears; in every ear is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills.” (Qur’an 2:261)
This verse establishes a key principle: charity is not reduced when given, it grows, multiplies, and continues benefiting others. The greater and longer the impact, the greater the multiplication.
Sadaqah Jariyah means ongoing charity, a form of giving that continues to benefit people over time.
It includes any action, project, or contribution that creates continuous impact, even after it is given.
Sadaqah Jariyah is charity that keeps benefiting others long-term.
In Islam, Sadaqah Jariyah reflects Qur’anic principles of sustained benefit, growth, and the circulation of wealth in society.
It is not limited to money. It includes anything that produces lasting good and ongoing benefit.
Sadaqah is a one-time act of charity that provides immediate relief.
Sadaqah Jariyah is ongoing charity that creates long-term benefit.
Both are valuable, but Sadaqah Jariyah focuses on continuous impact and lasting change.
The best examples are those that continue helping people over time.
Building wells, boreholes, and water systems that provide ongoing access to clean water.
Funding schools, teaching skills, and creating beneficial knowledge that continues to spread.
Providing tools, training, or support that helps individuals become self-sufficient.
Supporting clinics, medical services, and healthcare access that continues to benefit communities.
If the benefit continues, the charity continues.
The Qur’an emphasises sincere giving, lasting benefit, and responsible charity.
“Those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not follow up their charity with reminders or harm will have their reward with their Lord.” (Qur’an 2:262)
This shows that charity must be sincere, respectful, and beneficial in a real and lasting way.
The Qur’an teaches that every person will see the results of what they have sent forward.
If an action continues benefiting others, that benefit becomes part of a lasting legacy.
Ongoing charity is a continuous legacy of good.
The reward for charity is described as multiplied many times over, beyond human limits.
One act of giving can produce many outcomes over time. The longer the benefit continues, the greater the reward grows.
The best form of ongoing charity is what lasts the longest, helps the most people, and solves real problems.
Common examples today include water access, education, and sustainable livelihoods.
The focus should be on long-term benefit, not short-term relief.
Yes. Any action can become ongoing charity if it continues benefiting others.
Even small acts such as teaching a skill, sharing knowledge, or helping someone build stability can create lasting impact.
Consistency and impact matter more than size.
Yes. You can give charity with the intention of benefiting others.
What matters most is sincerity, real impact, and continuous benefit.
Modern challenges require long-term, sustainable solutions rather than temporary aid.
Ongoing charity helps reduce poverty, build self-sufficient communities, and create lasting systems of support.
It aligns with what is known today as sustainable development.
Your donation contributes to long-term solutions that continue benefiting communities.
Provides continuous access to clean water in water-scarce regions.
Supports learning, development, and future opportunities for children and communities.
Enables individuals and families to earn sustainable incomes.
Improves access to medical care and long-term health outcomes.
Each project is designed to deliver continuous impact over time.
Yes. Donations qualify for a Section 18A tax certificate, which can be used to reduce your taxable income in South Africa.
Sustainability is achieved through long-term planning and community involvement.
The goal is to ensure that the benefit continues for years.
Sadaqah Jariyah is about more than giving once.
It is about creating lasting benefit, building systems of good, and leaving behind a meaningful legacy.
The Qur’an teaches that what we give can grow far beyond what we imagine.
The goal is to give in a way that continues to benefit others long after we are gone.
Everything you need to know about ongoing charity in Islam and how your Sadaqah Jariyah creates lasting change in South Africa and beyond.
Sadaqah Jariyah is a voluntary, ongoing charity whose rewards continue to flow even after the giver has passed away. The phrase comes from the Arabic words "sadaqah" (voluntary charity) and "jariyah" (flowing or continuous), and together they describe a gift that keeps giving, both to those who receive it and to the one who gave it.
It is one of the three deeds that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said continue to benefit a person after death, making it one of the most spiritually significant forms of giving in Islam.
"When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge and a child who prays for them."
Examples of Sadaqah Jariyah include funding a water well, building or contributing to a school or masjid, planting a tree, supporting an orphan's education, or sharing knowledge that continues to benefit others long after it is given.
Sadaqah Jariyah is important because it is one of the few acts of worship whose reward does not end at death. For as long as the charity continues to benefit others, the reward continues to reach the giver, even generations after they have passed. This makes it a uniquely powerful form of investment in the hereafter.
It is also a deeply compassionate act in this world. A water borehole drilled in a community without clean water, a school built in an underserved township, or a vocational training programme that equips a woman to earn a sustainable income, these are acts whose impact ripples outward through families and communities for years to come.
Islam promoted what today's development sector calls "sustainable development" more than 1,400 years ago. Sadaqah Jariyah is the original expression of that principle, addressing root causes rather than symptoms, and building lasting resilience rather than dependency.
There are countless forms of Sadaqah Jariyah. Any act whose benefit continues to reach others after it is given qualifies. Some well-known examples include:
Through Islamic Relief South Africa, your Sadaqah Jariyah can fund borehole rehabilitation, education centres, orphan sponsorship, and livelihoods training that continue to benefit communities in South Africa long after your donation is made.
There are limitless forms of Sadaqah Jariyah. Any act that provides ongoing benefit to others, carried out through lawful means and with a sincere intention, can qualify. The key requirement is that the benefit continues beyond the initial act of giving.
Broadly speaking, Sadaqah Jariyah can take the following forms:
As long as the project provides ongoing benefit to others through halal means, it can be considered Sadaqah Jariyah.
Both Sadaqah and Sadaqah Jariyah are forms of voluntary charity in Islam, but they differ in the duration of their benefit and reward:
In short, all Sadaqah Jariyah is Sadaqah, but not all Sadaqah is Sadaqah Jariyah. Both are deeply encouraged in Islam and carry immense reward.
Zakat and Sadaqah Jariyah are both forms of charity in Islam, but they are fundamentally different in nature:
Zakat is a religious obligation with specific rules, while Sadaqah Jariyah is a free and open act of generosity whose defining feature is its lasting impact.
Sadaqah Jariyah can be given to any individual, community, or cause that will benefit from it on an ongoing basis. This includes the poor and needy, orphans and vulnerable children, communities without access to clean water or education, and any project or programme that creates lasting benefit for people.
Unlike Zakat, Sadaqah Jariyah is not restricted to specific categories of recipients. It can benefit both Muslims and non-Muslims. The key requirement is that the cause is lawful, beneficial, and that the benefit continues over time.
Islamic Relief South Africa directs Sadaqah Jariyah donations to long-term development programmes across South Africa, including water access, education, livelihoods, and orphan support, serving all communities in need regardless of faith or background.
Sadaqah Jariyah is unique in that it benefits multiple parties simultaneously:
Yes. It is entirely permissible and deeply encouraged to give Sadaqah Jariyah on behalf of another person, whether they are living or have passed away. If you make the intention of giving on their behalf, the reward will reach them with the permission of Allah (SWT), without diminishing your own reward in any way.
Many Muslims choose to give Sadaqah Jariyah in memory of a deceased parent, spouse, child, or loved one as a lasting memorial. Common acts include funding a water borehole, contributing to an education centre, or sponsoring an orphan in their name.
When donating through Islamic Relief South Africa, you can specify in the notes that the donation is on behalf of a named individual. Please contact us on 0800 111 898 or at info@islamic-relief.org.za if you need assistance.
Yes. Sadaqah Jariyah can be given to a mosque in the form of contributions towards construction, maintenance, educational materials, furnishings, or any other long-term feature that continues to benefit worshippers and the community. A masjid is a place of worship, learning, and community gathering, and contributing to its upkeep is a valid and rewarded form of ongoing charity.
Sadaqah Jariyah given to a registered charity such as Islamic Relief South Africa is equally valid and impactful. Your donation funds long-term development programmes whose benefits continue to reach communities for years after the initial gift is made.
Sadaqah Jariyah can be given at any time of year. There is no fixed season or minimum amount. Many Muslims choose to give during particularly blessed times, such as the month of Ramadan or the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, when the reward for good deeds is multiplied.
It is also common to give Sadaqah Jariyah following the death of a loved one, as a way of continuing their legacy of good deeds and ensuring that reward continues to reach them. Some Muslims give Sadaqah Jariyah to mark a birth, a marriage, a recovery from illness, or simply as an act of gratitude to Allah (SWT).
The most important thing is sincerity of intention. Sadaqah Jariyah given at any time, with a pure heart and a genuine desire to benefit others, is accepted and rewarded by Allah (SWT).
There is no Islamic requirement to give Sadaqah Jariyah specifically when something bad happens, but it is a deeply encouraged and spiritually beneficial act at such times. Many Muslims give Sadaqah Jariyah following a bereavement, an illness, or a period of hardship as a means of seeking Allah's mercy, comfort, and protection.
Giving charity in the name of a deceased loved one is a particularly meaningful act, as it creates a lasting memorial and ensures that reward continues to reach them in the hereafter. It can also bring comfort and a sense of purpose to those who are grieving.
Equally, giving Sadaqah Jariyah during times of prosperity and gratitude is highly encouraged. It is a way of acknowledging that all blessings come from Allah (SWT) and of sharing those blessings with others in a way that endures.
Islamic Relief South Africa directs Sadaqah Jariyah donations to long-term development programmes that create lasting change in vulnerable communities. These include:
According to our most recent annual report, 87 cents of every R1 donated goes directly into helping people in need, with 6 cents covering administrative costs and 7 cents invested in raising further funds.
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa has a dedicated local giving programme that allows you to direct your Sadaqah Jariyah to communities here at home. South Africa has significant levels of poverty, unemployment, and inequality, and your local Sadaqah Jariyah donation creates lasting impact for your neighbours in need.
You can choose to direct your donation to specific long-term programmes such as borehole installation, orphan sponsorship, education centre funding, or livelihoods training. To discuss how your Sadaqah Jariyah can be directed locally, please contact us on 0800 111 898 or at info@islamic-relief.org.za.
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a registered Section 18A organisation, which means donations made to us qualify for a tax deduction under South African law. When you donate, you will receive a Section 18A tax certificate that you can use when submitting your annual tax return to SARS.
This applies to both once-off and recurring Sadaqah Jariyah donations. Our charity registration number is 043-357-NPO. For any queries regarding tax certificates, please contact us on 0800 111 898 or at info@islamic-relief.org.za.
Yes. Islamic Relief South Africa is a fully registered and independently audited non-profit organisation. We have been serving communities across South Africa since 2004 and are part of the global Islamic Relief Worldwide network, which operates in over 40 countries.
Our registration details are as follows:
We are committed to full transparency and accountability to our donors, beneficiaries, and the communities we serve. Our annual impact report details exactly how every rand donated is spent and the lives it has changed.
There are several ways to give your Sadaqah Jariyah donation:
You can choose to give a once-off donation or set up a recurring monthly Sadaqah Jariyah. You can also direct your donation to a specific long-term programme such as water access, orphan sponsorship, education, or livelihoods. If you wish to give on behalf of a deceased loved one, please mention this when donating or contact our team directly.