✿ Author: Dr. Muhammad Zia-ur-Rahman Azmi (رحمہ اللہ)
✿ Building a Mosque for the Deceased Father as Continuous Charity (Sadaqah Jariyah)
Question:
If someone builds a mosque for his deceased father and says: “O my Lord! This mosque is continuous charity for my deceased father.”
Answer:
Yes, this will be considered continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah) for him. However, he did not build it himself, rather you built it. As long as people continue to offer prayers in that mosque and benefit from it, your father will continue to receive its reward.
But I will tell you of an even better act: Pray for your father and perform righteous deeds for yourself. This is based on the statement of the Prophet صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم:
“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: continuous charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
[Sahih Muslim 1631/14]
Here, continuous charity refers to the charity the deceased established during his lifetime. Regarding the child, the Prophet صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم did not say:
“Or that his righteous child gives charity on his behalf.”
The Prophet صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم guided to the path of prayer (du‘a), not to performing deeds on behalf of the deceased. I advise the brother who asked this question—or anyone who does—to make frequent supplications for the deceased and to engage in good deeds for oneself.
[Reference: Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Noor ‘Ala ad-Darb: 2/250]
✿ Building a Mosque for the Deceased Father as Continuous Charity (Sadaqah Jariyah)
Question:
If someone builds a mosque for his deceased father and says: “O my Lord! This mosque is continuous charity for my deceased father.”
Answer:
Yes, this will be considered continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah) for him. However, he did not build it himself, rather you built it. As long as people continue to offer prayers in that mosque and benefit from it, your father will continue to receive its reward.
But I will tell you of an even better act: Pray for your father and perform righteous deeds for yourself. This is based on the statement of the Prophet صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم:
“When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: continuous charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for him.”
[Sahih Muslim 1631/14]
Here, continuous charity refers to the charity the deceased established during his lifetime. Regarding the child, the Prophet صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم did not say:
“Or that his righteous child gives charity on his behalf.”
The Prophet صلى اللہ علیہ وسلم guided to the path of prayer (du‘a), not to performing deeds on behalf of the deceased. I advise the brother who asked this question—or anyone who does—to make frequent supplications for the deceased and to engage in good deeds for oneself.
[Reference: Ibn ‘Uthaymeen: Noor ‘Ala ad-Darb: 2/250]
