Sadaqah Jariyah meaning in English
In English, Sadaqah Jariyah is translated as ongoing charity, continuous charity, perpetual charity or flowing charity. All four translations describe the same idea: the giving does not stop at the moment the gift is handed over.
The distinguishing feature is the duration of the benefit, not the size of the gift. Ordinary charity meets a need once. Sadaqah Jariyah creates something that keeps meeting that need: a source of clean water that still runs in twenty years, a place of worship that is still used every day, a piece of knowledge that is still being passed on.
This is why Sadaqah Jariyah is often described as the charity that outlives the giver.
Sadaqah Jariyah meaning in Arabic
Sadaqah Jariyah (صدقة جارية) is made up of two Arabic words, and the meaning of each one explains the concept.
| Word |
Arabic |
Root and literal sense |
Usual English |
| Sadaqah |
صدقة |
From the root ṣ-d-q, carrying the sense of truthfulness and sincerity |
Voluntary charity |
| Jariyah |
جارية |
From the root j-r-y, meaning to flow or to run, the same root used for flowing water |
Ongoing, flowing, continuous |
Classical scholars explain that voluntary giving is called sadaqah because it is evidence of the sincerity of a person's faith. Jariyah is the same word Arabic uses for a running stream, which is where the image of charity that "keeps flowing" comes from.
Put together, صدقة جارية means a charity that runs on: given once, benefiting continuously.
How to pronounce and spell it
Sadaqah Jariyah is pronounced sa-da-qah ja-ri-yah. You will also see it written as sadaqa jariya, sadqah jariyah, sadaqah jaariyah and sadaka jariyah. These are all transliterations of the same Arabic term and mean exactly the same thing.
Where the term Sadaqah Jariyah comes from
The phrase Sadaqah Jariyah does not appear in the Qur'an. It comes from the Sunnah, from a well-known hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him).
What makes a charity "Jariyah"?
Not every donation is Sadaqah Jariyah. Three conditions are usually applied:
