Ruling on constructing a continuous charity and bequeathing it
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The following message was received from Sudanese brothers residing in the Kingdom. In their first question, they say:
Is it possible for a person to construct a continuous charity and bequeath it to one of his friends or relatives, other than his father or mother? And is it possible for its reward to reach him? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The questioner’s statement, “Is it possible to construct a continuous charity?”—I did not understand the meaning of “constructing.” If by “constructing” one means [missing text] and establishing land as a continuous charity, or lighting that becomes a continuous charity, or a shop, meaning a store, that becomes a continuous charity, then there is no harm. He may let it flow and assign its income to his father or mother or relatives; the charity benefits both the deceased and the living. Or he may assign its income to the repair of mosques, or to supporting the poor and those in need, or to paying off the debts of debtors, or to building hostels for the poor, or the like. This is called a continuous charity, and it is called an endowment (waqf), and it is called letting it flow (isbal), and it is called [missing text]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 1383.
However, if by “constructing” he meant giving out, meaning he wants to give money from his wealth, or give out cash, food, or clothing from his wealth, to give in charity to some of his friends, or to some of his relatives, or to some of his needy neighbors, or to others, then there is no harm in this either, and the reward will reach. The reward will reach the deceased and the living if they make it sincere for Allah and seek nearness to Allah through it. Then what he gives out of [missing text], or clothing, or food, or meat, if he gives it to some of the poor, or to some of his friends, to seek nearness to Allah, or because he is poor, or for any of these lawful reasons, all of this benefits the deceased and the living.
Is it possible for a person to construct a continuous charity and bequeath it to one of his friends or relatives, other than his father or mother? And is it possible for its reward to reach him? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The questioner’s statement, “Is it possible to construct a continuous charity?”—I did not understand the meaning of “constructing.” If by “constructing” one means [missing text] and establishing land as a continuous charity, or lighting that becomes a continuous charity, or a shop, meaning a store, that becomes a continuous charity, then there is no harm. He may let it flow and assign its income to his father or mother or relatives; the charity benefits both the deceased and the living. Or he may assign its income to the repair of mosques, or to supporting the poor and those in need, or to paying off the debts of debtors, or to building hostels for the poor, or the like. This is called a continuous charity, and it is called an endowment (waqf), and it is called letting it flow (isbal), and it is called [missing text]. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) 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 لهHowever, if by “constructing” he meant giving out, meaning he wants to give money from his wealth, or give out cash, food, or clothing from his wealth, to give in charity to some of his friends, or to some of his relatives, or to some of his needy neighbors, or to others, then there is no harm in this either, and the reward will reach. The reward will reach the deceased and the living if they make it sincere for Allah and seek nearness to Allah through it. Then what he gives out of [missing text], or clothing, or food, or meat, if he gives it to some of the poor, or to some of his friends, to seek nearness to Allah, or because he is poor, or for any of these lawful reasons, all of this benefits the deceased and the living.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.