The closest to Allah are the ones who help their fellow men. Charity and donating are one of the most rewarding deeds in Islam. It is known as Sadaqah in Islam and we should give it as much as we can.

Sadaqah

It is a short-term act of donation and kindness that you perform for the sake of Allah. It can be anything from giving monetary aid to helping a friend in need. But it is an act which is performed for that time only. For example, a family is in need of some money to run its household expenditures for the month. You help them with some monetary aid. This act of kindness will be on a short-term basis as the aid will be sufficient for a time. 

However, a short term act of charity is also rewarding and liked by Allah, The Almighty. But Sadaqah Jariyah is considered greater in rewards.

Sadaqah Jariyah

Sadaqah Jariyah is a long-term act of donation or continuous charity which results in a continuous reward from Allah. It is performed with the faith in Allah.  Sadaqah Jariyah can be performed in many ways. For example, building a well in a village where there is no source of clean water is a form of Sadaqah Jariyah. 

It will be considered as a long-term act of kindness as whenever someone will drink from that well, you will get the sawab for it and it will continue even when you die. However, charity cannot only be done through monetary means. You can also give Sadaqah Jariyah without giving any money. 

You can give your services as a form of Sadaqah Jariyah. For example, you can teach someone how to read The Quran. Even teaching someone just one Ayat of the Quran would give you numerous rewards.

Importance of Sadaqah Jariyah

It is very vital to give Sadaqah Jariyah as by doing this simple act you can achieve some ever lasting effects. Your simple act of kindness would not only provide aid to others but would also provide benefits to you and your loved ones.

The Hadith proves the significance of Sadaqah Jariyah. The Holy Prophet of Allah emphasized on giving Sadaqah Jariyah. It was said that when a person passes away, all his acts end but only three remain and provide them with rewards. These are A righteous child, beneficial knowledge and Sadaqah Jariyah.

When you give Sadaqah Jariyah with a clean niyyat, numerous rewards are added to the books of your deeds and continue even after you die. As a Muslim, you must give Sadaqah and Sadaqah Jariyah so that you can enjoy the rewards in your lifetime as well as after you die.

Moreover, as a follower of Islam, we must believe in the fact that it is a key component of our religion to help the ones who are needy and less fortunate. When we give our rizq grows. Islam teaches us generosity and by giving Sadaqah we open our hearts and give. This in unexpected ways comes back to us in our lifetime or in the after.

We as Muslims should provide Sadaqah Jariyah to help our fellow brothers, sisters and our fellow human beings so that we can get the rewards from Allah Tala. The rewards for this continuous charity would continue to assist our fellow men even after we die which means we would keep on getting the reward.

You can give Sadaqah Jariyah in many ways like supporting water projects or a drip irrigation system. It would help families in getting clean water for drinking and growing crops for years and years to come. You can also do a continuous charity by creating a farm, building an institution for homeless women and children, building a school for the needy, building a hospital for the needy or just planting a tree. 

Whoever that tree would benefit, you will get the reward for it. A tree can be of many uses, like it can provide fruit to the hungry and homeless and also provide shade in times of scorching heat. You will be surprised to know that even building or creating something for the animals is also a form of Sadaqah Jariyah. Animals should never be mistreated and helping an animal in need is a great deed of kindness.

Other forms of Sadaqah

Many of us are reluctant in providing Sadaqah with the mindset that it will require money. However, this is not true as you can donate by doing simple non–monetary acts. These include being kind and nice to someone, talking to them gently, helping them with something, showing someone the right path, teaching someone, respecting your elders and even younger ones etc. 

These are small acts of kindness but they are added to your books of deeds and there are rewards for them. Also, there are no rules and regulations for charity. You can give as little as you want and it will be counted by Allah as Sadaqah.

Conclusion

People often confuse Sadaqah and Sadaqah Jariyah as the same. Sadaqah is an act of kindness for the time being whereas, Sadaqah Jariyah is a continuous charity. You must Give Sadaqah JAriyah to achieve greater rewards in this life and after.