Benefiting the Deceased through Good Deeds: Sadqa and Islamic Teachings
Losing a loved one is one of the most challenging phases of life, one that fills us with a profound sense of grief and loss. For Muslims, every part of life, including death, is a journey of faith. Far from being the end, death marks a transition from one stage of existence to another. While we bereave the physical absence of our loved ones, we remain connected to them in spirit through our prayers and good deeds, hoping to benefit them in their afterlife journey.
One of the most remarkable and rewarding aspects of Islam is the belief that good deeds, such as giving Sadqa (charity) and observing other Islamic teachings, can benefit not only the doer but also the departed ones. This form of ongoing charity or Sadaqah Jariyah is carried out with the intention (Niyyah) that the rewards of the good deeds will reach the deceased.
Hadith
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: a continuing charity, beneficial knowledge and a child who prays for them” (Hadith Muslim). [Reference]
Sadqa – The Ongoing Reward
So, even post life, a person can continue acquiring good deeds via Sadqa. Sadqa can be carried out in numerous forms. The beauty of Sadqa lies in its flexibility and range; it can take the form of monetary donations to those in need, the construction of a well, a school, a hospital that benefits others, or even sharing knowledge that could benefit others. The rewards from this Sadqa then continue to benefit the deceased, therefore contributing to their hereafter.
Here are some examples of Sadqa (charity) in Islam:
- Giving money to the poor or needy: This is the most straightforward and commonly practiced form of Sadqa.
- Providing food: Both preparing meals and sharing food with those who are hungry count as Sadqa.
- Donating clothing: Giving away new or gently used clothing to those in need.
- Supplying clean water: Building a water well or a facility for clean drinking water.
- Sponsored education: Paying for someone’s tuition fees or school supplies.
- Donating to a mosque: Donating money or items to be used in a mosque, or financially contributing to the building of a new mosque.
- Establishing free health services: Building or funding a free clinic/hospital, or sponsoring someone’s medical expenses.
- Offering emotional support: Comforting and supporting someone in a difficult time can also count as a form of charity.
- Helping in tasks: Assisting someone with their chores or tasks e.g. helping an elderly neighbor with groceries.
- Respecting elders: Showing respect to parents, relatives, and the elderly.
- Teaching or sharing useful knowledge: Teaching someone to read, imparting any knowledge or skill set, or even sharing useful information may count as Sadqa.
- Sponsorship of orphan: Taking financial responsibility of an orphan’s needs.
- Feeding animals: Providing food or water to animals.
- Planting trees: Islam encourages planting trees as the planter receives reward as long as humans and animals benefit from it.
- Spreading love and kindness: Saying or doing things that spread feelings of goodwill and brotherhood among people.
Remember, it’s not the magnitude of the act or the donation that matters, it’s the genuine willingness to help and the intention of pleasing Allah that counts in the act of giving Sadqa.
Islamic Prayers | Dua
Muslims believe in the power of Du’a (supplication) and its potential to change destinies. Prayers for the deceased hold utmost importance and are highly encouraged, ranging from Dua-e-Janaza (the funeral prayer), recitation of the Quran, to a series of individual Duas asking for forgiveness and mercy of Allah upon the deceased.
Read more Dua For Someone Who Passed Away | Dua For Deceased Person | Audio and Transliteration
A child who prays for them | Dua For Parents
Here’s a Dua that a child can recite for their deceased parents as taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Transliteration: “Rabbighfir li wa liwalidayya wa lil Mu’mineena yawma yaqumul hisaab.”
Translation: “My Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established.”
It’s a Dua that not only asks for forgiveness for oneself, but also the parents and all believers, demonstrating the comprehensive benevolence that Islam encourages.
Read more Dua for Parents
Fasting, Hajj and Umrah
Apart from Sadqa, other acts encouraged in Islam, such as observing fasts or performing the Hajj and Umrah on behalf of the departed soul, can carry immense rewards to the deceased.
In essence, Islam provides a spiritual pathway leading us to feel an empowering connection with our dearly departed. It’s a beautiful reminder that in Islam, love, remembrance, and prayers surpass the barrier of life and death. While we may miss our loved ones’ physical presence, we can derive peace from the belief that we can still touch their lives in the eternal world through our prayers and good deeds. In this way, Islam offers us a journey through grief that is paired with hope, comfort, and tangible actions to remember and benefit our loved ones even after their departure from this earthly realm.
