Sadaqah Jariyah is a continuous, long-term charity that benefits someone for a life-time, long after the charity is given. The idea of Sadaqah Jariyah is to create sustainable solutions for people and communities. Building a water well, sponsoring an orphan, planting trees or crops, and building a medical, religious, or educational institution are some of the many ways to perform Sadaqah Jariyah. They provide continuous charity to benefit for generations to come.
- Building a well is considered Sadaqah Jariyah due to the sustainability it creates for generations to come:
- Water-borne diseases exist due to the lack of hygiene and access to clean water. Providing clean water helps prevent water-borne diseases from spreading to entire communities which builds a healthy and sustainable community to prosper and develop.
- Providing accessibility to clean water helps us to protect women and children who have to travel 2-5 kilometers a day just to fetch water. This gives them access to spend more time taking classes, getting an education which will further allow them to thrive in a work environment. When you educate a woman, you educate a community and the next generation to come.
- Providing water allows farmers to improve their agriculture and livestock by having basic necessities like water to grow their crops. This creates more economic and agricultural stability in these regions because the more crops they grow, the more they can produce to their communities.
Water in Islam
Islamically, water is a huge part of one’s spirituality, purity, and cleanliness.
Water is used to perform ablution (Wudu and Ghusl) which contributes to the purification of one’s soul in Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Cleanliness is half of Iman (faith).” (Muslim & Bukhari).
It is believed that ablution (Wudu and Ghusl) washes away a believer’s sins. By providing access to clean water, not only are you providing access to their personal cleanliness but opening doors to religious and spiritual purification.
The Prophet (SAWS) said: “When a Muslim or a believer washes his face (in the course of Wudu’) every sin he has committed with his eyes is washed away from his face along with water, or with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin they wrought is erased from his hands with the water, or with the last drop of water; and when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet walked is washed away with water, or with the last drop of water, with the result that he comes out cleansed of all sins” (Sahih Muslim)
Among many other elements, building a water well on behalf of a deceased loved one is an excellent way to gain rewards for those who have passed away. Islamically, if you build a well in someone’s name, the person will get the rewards for all the sustainability the well creates for the community. That includes but is not limited to prevention of disease, quenching thirst, and providing life-saving clean water for those that need it the most. All the rewards you would get on your own for building a well, get transferred to the person that is deceased.
Among many other elements, building a water well on behalf of a deceased loved one is an excellent way to gain rewards for those who have passed away.
On the authority of Sa‘d bin ’Ubadah (ra) that he said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Umm (mother of) Sa‘d has died, so which charity is best?’ He [saw] replied, “Water (is best).” He said, ‘So he [ra] dug a well and said, “This (well) is for Umm Sa‘d”’. (Abu Dawud)
Water is a gift of life. An estimated 785 million people lack access to clean water. The lack of access to clean water leads to water-borne diseases which have been the cause of an estimated two million deaths every year.
Access to water has the power to create safe and sustainable communities. Providing access to safe water can create more opportunities for education, lead to economic prosperity, better agriculture, and improved health.
How can you help?
IDRF is working in Pakistan, India, East Africa, the Sahel Region, and now Gaza, to create sustainable water wells to provide access to clean water.Help us to provide entire communities in need with safe and accessible water not just for today but for generations to come.
Donate now because Every Drop Counts.💧