What is better for a Muslim: waqf (endowment) or sadaqah (voluntary charity)?
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Question:
The questioner Abu Ahmad says: I am asking about waqf (endowment), and what is better: sadaqah (voluntary charity) or waqf (endowment)?
Answer:
This requires detail: Sadaqah (voluntary charity) may be better during a person's life, as he presents good for himself before his death. Waqf (endowment) may be better if there are people after him who are good at managing the waqf (endowment) and handling it properly, so that it becomes a continuous charity for him that benefits him.
The best is to combine both: give charity during his life, spend, and establish a waqf (endowment) that benefits him after his death. He should place it in the hands of a trustworthy person in whom he expects good and who will carry out what he instructs him to do. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered 'Umar to establish a waqf (endowment). He said—regarding a piece of land he had in Khaybar—“Give the principal as charity; it is not to be sold or given away, but its produce is to be spent.” And he said:Riyad as-Salihin 1383.
So, waqf (endowment) in the causes of righteousness and good deeds is required, good, and beneficial. Sadaqah (voluntary charity) during one's life and its execution is also beneficial.
So, the Muslim combines these two: he gives charity and does good in his life and hastens to do good. And if he establishes a waqf (endowment) after his death, he combines the two good things. The waqf (endowment) should be in the causes of goodness and righteous deeds, such as building mosques, giving charity to the poor among his relatives and others, and to the needy among his relatives and others, and spending in the path of Allah in teaching knowledge, distributing books, buying mushafs (written copies of the Qur'an) and distributing them, and other causes of righteousness. It should be in the hands of a trustworthy person, whether a relative or not.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
The questioner Abu Ahmad says: I am asking about waqf (endowment), and what is better: sadaqah (voluntary charity) or waqf (endowment)?
Answer:
This requires detail: Sadaqah (voluntary charity) may be better during a person's life, as he presents good for himself before his death. Waqf (endowment) may be better if there are people after him who are good at managing the waqf (endowment) and handling it properly, so that it becomes a continuous charity for him that benefits him.
The best is to combine both: give charity during his life, spend, and establish a waqf (endowment) that benefits him after his death. He should place it in the hands of a trustworthy person in whom he expects good and who will carry out what he instructs him to do. This is because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered 'Umar to establish a waqf (endowment). He said—regarding a piece of land he had in Khaybar—“Give the principal as charity; it is not to be sold or given away, but its produce is to be spent.” And he said:
When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased).
إذا مات ابن آدم انقطع عمله إلا من ثلاث: صدقة جارية أو علم ينتفع به أو ولد صالح يدعو لهSo, waqf (endowment) in the causes of righteousness and good deeds is required, good, and beneficial. Sadaqah (voluntary charity) during one's life and its execution is also beneficial.
So, the Muslim combines these two: he gives charity and does good in his life and hastens to do good. And if he establishes a waqf (endowment) after his death, he combines the two good things. The waqf (endowment) should be in the causes of goodness and righteous deeds, such as building mosques, giving charity to the poor among his relatives and others, and to the needy among his relatives and others, and spending in the path of Allah in teaching knowledge, distributing books, buying mushafs (written copies of the Qur'an) and distributing them, and other causes of righteousness. It should be in the hands of a trustworthy person, whether a relative or not.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.