Fatwa ID: 02235

Answered by Molana Qadeer Ahmed

Question:

Can I pay monthly water bill of an orphanage as sadqah jariya in my mother's name ?

Answer:

There are four types of sadqah. 

1) sadqah waajibah (obligatory sadqah). This is a charity given due to a vow. (if allah does such and such thing for me i will give a certain amount of saqah).

2) sadqatul-fitr. (sadqah given at the end of ramadan. this can only be given to the poor and needy.

3) sadqah jaariyah. (this is an optional sadqah but the reward will last forever such as giving money for the building of a masjid or water well.

4) sadaqah naafilah/lillah. (this is an optional sadqah which is given to a poor person which lasts for a small amount of time. such as buying food/clothes for a poor person.

Your case you fall under category number 4 and you and your mother will still attain reward for as long as you pay the water bill for the orphanage.

Allah ta'ala mentions in the Quran: those who (in charity) spend of their goods by night and by day, in secret and in public, have their reward with their lord. On them shall be no fear nor shall they grieve. (2:274)

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Molana Qadeer Ahmed

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul ifta Birmingham