(Excerpt taken from Shaykh Javed Iqbal Sialkoti’s book: “Parents and the Rights of Children”)
The Everlasting Reward of Good Upbringing
Righteous upbringing of children not only brings honor, respect, and comfort to parents in this world but also becomes a continuous charity (ṣadaqah jāriyah) after their death.
Through their virtuous children, Allah raises the parents’ ranks and grants them salvation in the Hereafter — In shā’ Allāh.
◈ Hadith 1
إِذَا مَاتَ الإِنْسَانُ انْقَطَعَ عَنْهُ عَمَلُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ ثَلَاثَةٍ: صَدَقَةٍ جَارِيَةٍ، أَوْ عِلْمٍ يُنْتَفَعُ بِهِ، أَوْ وَلَدٍ صَالِحٍ يَدْعُو لَهُ.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
📚 Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Wasiyyah, Chapter: Deeds That Continue to Benefit a Person After Death – Hadith: 4223
Explanation:
This hadith shows that even after death, certain deeds continue to benefit a person:
➊ Ṣadaqah Jāriyah (Continuous Charity) – such as building a mosque, school, or well; as long as people benefit from it, the deceased continues to receive reward.
➋ Beneficial Knowledge – whether through books, teachings, or students who act upon it.
➌ Righteous Offspring – if one raises pious children, every time they perform good deeds or pray for their parents, the parents’ reward continues to increase.
◈ Hadith 2
إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَتُرْفَعُ دَرَجَتُهُ فِي الْجَنَّةِ، فَيَقُولُ: أَنَّى لِي هَذَا؟ فَيُقَالُ: بِاسْتِغْفَارِ وَلَدِكَ لَكَ.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Indeed, a man’s rank will be raised in Paradise. He will ask, ‘How did I attain this?’ It will be said to him: ‘Through the seeking of forgiveness by your child for you.’”
📚 [Hasan] Sunan Ibn Mājah, Kitab al-Adab, Chapter: Dutifulness to Parents – Hadith: 3660
Summary of Teachings
① A child’s righteous upbringing benefits both in this world and after death.
② Good children become a parent’s ongoing charity and means of elevation in the Hereafter.
③ Every act of piety by a child brings reward to the parents who nurtured them in righteousness.
④ The prayer and istighfār (seeking forgiveness) of a righteous child continues to raise the status of parents in Paradise.
