A Muslim knows that his deeds are recorded throughout his life and that he will be held accountable for those deeds. Our Lord says in the 2nd verse of Mulk Surah: "Allah is the one who created death and life to test you to see which of you is better in deeds." he said. In other words, a person performs deeds while he is alive and his deeds are recorded, but after he dies, the book in which his deeds are written is closed. In order for the book of deeds not to be closed after death, a person must leave behind some works that will benefit people or creatures. “What are the things that leave the book of deeds of the deceased open?” The answer to the question is charity.

Contents
What is Sadaka-i Cariye?
What are the Examples and Types of Sadaka-i Cariye?
Verses About Charity
The Evil of Disregarding Alms Giving
Hadith Sharifs About Sadaka-i Cariye
Prevents the Deeds Book from Closing
Allah (swt) increases the wealth of those who give alms
Provides Protection from Hell Fire
Stories about Sadaka-i Cariye
Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sadaka-i Cariye?
Literally, it means "good deeds that constantly lead to good deeds, whose rewards continue to be written down after death, and that keep the book of deeds open."

As its name suggests, it is like a stream. Its flow continues, people and all creatures benefit from it. Its sound gives peace, while its water quenches people's thirst, it cleans the paths along which it flows and gives life to trees and plants. In the same way, alms-i jariya returns as good to both the person who does it and the person who benefits from it. Establishing a foundation that provides beneficial services, building a mosque, fountain, public fountain, bridge, madrasah, etc. Charity that continues to flow as good as people benefit from it is an example of this.

The situation of having good deeds that continue after a person's death and keeping his book of deeds open thanks to his good deeds and good deeds is called sadaka-i jariya.

What are the Examples and Types of Sadaka-i Cariye?
Basically, it means to break new ground and to be instrumental. In Islam, there is no taking responsibility for someone else's sins; a person is held accountable for his actions. However, if he makes a breakthrough on evil, he gets his share from it. Likewise, if he has broken new ground and been a pioneer in a good work, he will also receive his share of the reward of that work. For this reason, although alms-i cariye are deeds that can change according to time, place and living standards, what does not change is that it is a means that people can benefit from in good deeds.

In the past, writing a work by hand was considered charity. However, today, with the development of technology, there is no need for manuscripts. Contributing financially to the publication of a work of this nature includes building roads, bridges, public fountains, fountains and madrasahs; It is also charity to educate a student who will pass on the knowledge he has acquired to the next generations and who will be prayerful, to raise a righteous child, to have a mosque built, or to fill a deficiency in the scientific community. Our Prophet (pbuh) said: "The one who causes good is like the one who does that good." and encouraged Muslims to at least support those who are able to do deeds that they cannot do. If a person cannot afford to study Islamic sciences, he should support the students of science. If he does not have the financial power to build a scientific council, he should get rewarded by helping physically. There are many doors for those who want to do good, and these doors will not be closed even if the person dies.

Verses About Charity
"It is good if you give alms openly! But if you give it to the poor by hiding it, it is better for you and it will atone for some of your sins. Allah is fully aware of what you do." (Surat al-Baqara 271)
"(Alms) are for the poor who dedicate themselves to the way of Allah and who cannot afford to travel on earth. Because of their chastity (because they do not beg), those who do not know think they are rich. You recognize them by their faces. They do not ask (for anything) from people shamelessly. Whatever good you give, surely Allah will give it to you. knows." (Surat al-Baqara 273)
"Allah destroys the wealth of interest and increases (blesses) alms. Allah does not like any sinful ungrateful person." (Surat al-Baqara 276)
"If the debtor is in trouble, give him respite until he can have more money. It would be better for you to forgive (the debt) as charity if you knew." (Surat al-Baqara 280)
"There is no good in most of the secret conversations between them, except those who command to give alms or do good deeds or to make peace between people. Whoever does these only to gain the consent of Allah, We will give him a great reward." (Surat an-Nisa' 114)
"And there are those among them who made a promise to Allah, saying, 'If Allah gives us His grace and generosity, we will surely give abundantly in charity and we will surely be among the righteous.'" (Surah At-Tawbah 75)
"Thereupon, when they entered Joseph (on their return to Egypt), they said, "O mighty vizier! We and our family have been touched by hardship and hardship. We came with a paltry capital. Measure out our food exactly and give us alms. Surely, Allah rewards those who give alms." .” (Surah Yusuf 88)
"Indeed, those who give alms, men and women, and those who lend Allah a goodly loan, it will be multiplied for them. And they will have a very valuable reward." (Surat al-Hadid 18)
"If death comes to any of you and says, 'Oh my Lord! "Spend in the way of Allah from what We have provided for you, before you say, 'If only you could delay me until a short time, so that I could give alms and be among the righteous.'" (Surah Al-Munafiqun 10)
The Evil of Disregarding Alms Giving
"A kind word and forgiveness are better than a charity followed by heartbreak. Allah is infinitely rich and lenient in every respect (He does not punish immediately, He gives respite)." (Surat al-Baqara 263)
"O you who believe! Do not waste your charity by insulting people and breaking hearts, like someone who spends his wealth to show off to people, although he does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. Allah does not guide the unbelieving people." (Surat al-Baqara 264)

Hadith Sharifs About Sadaka-i Cariye
Hz. The Prophet (pbuh) emphasized this issue in many of his hadiths and encouraged us to give alms abundantly.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: There are seven things that reach the servant after his death, even when he is in his grave: The knowledge he taught, the water he poured, the water well he dug, the fruit tree he planted, the mosque he built, the Mushaf-i sharif (which he inherited) a book), a good son who will ask forgiveness for himself after his death.

“If a Muslim person plants a tree and a person, animal or bird eats from it, these things eaten will be recorded as charity for that Muslim until the Day of Judgment.” (Muslim, Musakat, 10)

Prevents the Deeds Book from Closing
"When a person dies, his deeds cease except for three things: charity, leaving behind useful knowledge, or a righteous child who will pray for him and ask for forgiveness." [Muslim]
“A person's own property is the property that he spends by doing good deeds and sends in advance. The property of the heir is all kinds of movable and immovable property that he did not spend and left behind.” (Bukhari)
“The reward of the knowledge that the believer learns and spreads continues even after his death.” [Ibn Majah]
Allah (swt) increases the wealth of those who give alms
“Two angels descend to earth every morning. Someone says: - O Lord, replace the property of those who spend and do good.
The other one prays: "O Lord, destroy the wealth of the stingy person." (Bukhari, Muslim)
“The wealth does not decrease by giving for the sake of Allah. Allah further increases the honor of His servant who forgives. "Whoever humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah will exalt him even more." (Muslim)
“O son of Adam, spend your wealth for charity so that it will be spent on you as well (May Allah reward you in this world and the hereafter).” (Bukhari, Muslim)
"Spend, don't count, it will be given to you in numbers, do not spare your excess wealth and money from the needy, your sustenance will also be denied." (Bukhari, Muslim)
“Prayer, fasting and dhikr are multiplied seven hundred times over spending in the way of Allah.” (Abu David)
Provides Protection from Hell Fire
“Protect yourself from the fire even with half a date. If you cannot find this, say nice, heart-warming words.” (Bukhari)
“Any Muslim who plants a tree or crops and a bird, human or animal eats from it will definitely receive the reward of charity in return.” (Bukhari)
“A person has a charity that must be given every day for each of his organs. Acting fairly between two people is charity. Helping someone get on your horse, letting them ride on you, or helping you load your load on them is charity. A kind word is also a charity. Every step you take towards prayer is a charity. "Removing something that disturbs people from the road is also a charity." (Bukhari)
Stories about Sadaka-i Cariye
Ferîdüddin Attâr tells the following story in one of his works:

One day, while Sultan Nûşirevân was running his horse at full speed among the wide greenery, he saw a person on the road whose back was bent due to old age. What he saw was an old person. He was busy planting saplings in a large garden.

The sultan suddenly stopped his horse, approached the garden and asked the old man as follows in order to understand why he did this good deed:

-“O old man who stood tall in his youth, but whose back has become bent like a branch over time! Your hair and beard are gray. Allah (swt) knows; Looks like you probably have less time left in your life. Instead of spending this time resting, do you spend it planting trees with your weak hands? However, you may not even be able to see its fruit!”

The old man first straightened his waist, leaning on the cane he had picked up from the ground, and then looked at the sultan for a long time in astonishment. Then he said these words one by one:

-“My Sultan! Many people planted saplings for us at the time. Those who planted saplings for us perhaps died without being able to eat the fruit of the saplings they planted. We ate the fruit of the saplings they planted. For this reason, isn't our duty now to plant saplings for the generations to come after us, just like they did?

The sultan was very pleased with these words of the old man, full of insight and foresight. He gave the old man some gold as a gift. After the sultan gave the gold, the old man smiled and continued his words as follows:

“-My Sultan! Did you see? My tree has already borne fruit. However, even if I lived for more than seventy years, I could not obtain a better profit from this crop. But I didn't have to wait 10 years to eat the fruit of the saplings I planted today. "With the few saplings I planted today, I received both the gift of the sultan and his great blessings."

The Sultan was more pleased with these words of the old man. He donated the land to him and the water there...

Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sadaka-i Cariye in Brief?
These are the deeds that do not close a person's book of deeds after death and that bring continuous reward.

Is building a school a form of charity?
Any good deed that a person does in hope of Allah's approval is considered charity as long as it continues and people benefit from it. In this regard, building schools, madrasahs, roads, bridges or helping to build them is also considered charity if they will contribute to the raising of a good generation.

Is charity obligatory for concubine?
In order to better understand the rule of charity for the concubine, we can list it under 4 main headings:

Obligatory charity: This is called zakat.
Sadaqah of fitr: Sadaka al-fitr is the obligatory alms that every Muslim must give. It is given during Ramadan. It is also called fitre.
Voluntary alms: This is the alms that a person gives willingly and for the sake of Allah. Every good thing done for the sake of God's consent is charity.
Sadaka-i jariye: It is the charity that allows us to write good deeds in our book of deeds even after death and does not close the book of deeds. These are all kinds of good works that people benefit from, such as building mosques, roads, planting trees, fountains, and leaving useful scientific works.
The rule of charity is not wajib but sunnah. Wajib refers to the things that a Muslim is commanded to do. As for charity, it is up to the individual to decide what he wants. So "is it fard or wajib?" The clearest answer we can give to the question is: "It is sunnah, not fard." It will happen.

Is printing the Quran a form of charity?
Printing the Quran, opening a water well, contributing to the publication of scientific works, helping students of science, raising a righteous child, etc. All kinds of good deeds are considered within the scope of charity. Of course, printing the Quran is also within this scope. The good deeds of those who will read it will also be written down to those who cause it to be published and distribute it free of charge. However, for those who print it and then sell it for a fee, this does not fall within the scope of charity. Because this is considered trade.

Which Deeds Done After Death Are Considered Within the Scope of Sadaka-i Cariye?
A human being must leave behind a legacy of goodness that continues after he dies. Anything that continues good deeds can be evaluated within this scope. Foundations, roads, public fountains, bridges, mosques, madrasahs, water wells, compiling videos and articles that people benefit from, cassettes, books, planting saplings, etc. Everything that people benefit from and that leads to good deeds is included in this scope.

However, the greatest charity that a person will leave behind is a child who is prayerful, helpful to believers, well-behaved, and a good generation. Today, we live in a society where haram things are very common. At the same time, there are millions of people who do not know the religion of Islam and are unaware of the divine truths. It is a disadvantage for people to leave this world in this way, where they came to be tested and have to earn heaven. In such a situation, being from a good generation and being one of those who raised that generation is of great importance. A generation that will learn knowledge on the one hand, teach it on the other hand, and fight for the religion of Allah to dominate the earth.

The important act of "helping a person come to the right path" is also included in the scope of charity. In the Holy Quran, both the means of guiding people and the act of conveying the message on this subject are emphasized. Even if the person who guided him dies, his share of the deeds of the guided person will be recorded for him. In this way, every new individual who understands Islam and the Islamic cause will strengthen the Islamic cause and accelerate the construction of the Islamic Civilization; It will also be a source of continued charity for us after we die.