Three things, the returns for which keep accruing even after death

Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has said that the returns for a persons own virtues come to an end when he dies; but there are three such things, the returns for which keep accruing even after death: a Sadaqah with recurring benefits, knowledge from which people continue to benefit, and virtuous children who offer Duaa for their deceased parents. Note: How infinitely Kind, Liberal and Bountiful Allah Taala is for man! Even after his death, when his own deeds come to an end and he is powerless to do any good act for himself and remains in a sound sleep in the grave, Allah Taala has created means through which the deceaseds account of virtues keeps on increasing. Rasulullah Sallallaho alaihe wasallam has mentioned three of those means in this Hadith. The first one is virtue with recurring benefits, that is to give Sadaqah something, the benefits of which is lasting, such as building a Masjid where people offer Salaat. As long as it remains in use for that purpose, its returns will keep accruing. Some other similar cases are: to build a caravan-serial for free stay of travellers, to dedicate a building for the public good or for religious purposes, to benefit Muslims. The recurring returns for such dedications will benefit the deceased donor. Yet another example of this is to have a well dug for public use; the benefit of this will keep accruing as long as people keep drinking its water or use it for ablutions, etc., all for the gain of the person who paid for the well, whether he is alive or dead. Another Hadith says, "The things for which a Momin continues to receive reward after death are: knowledge that he taught and spread, the good children he left behind, or a copy of the Quran which he left as legacy, or a Masjid which he built, or a caravan-serai that he made for the travellers, a canal that he dug, or a Sadaqah which he gave when he was alive and healthy". One can continue to receive benefits after death through creating, by the way of Sadaqah, anything of lasting value and meant for public good. Yet another thing which is of continuous benefit is the knowledge taught to others and also the diffusion of knowledge, which includes donating money to a Madrassah or compiling a religious book or distributing such a book among religious students. To donate volumes of Quran and religious books to Masjids and Madrassahs for public reading also come under diffusion of knowledge. Another Hadith mentions seven things which perpetuate their rewards even after death. These are teaching of knowledge, building of a canal, establishing a well,

planting a tree, building a Masjid, leaving the Quran in heritage and leaving behind children who invoke upon the deceased parents forgiveness from Allah Taala. It is not necessary that all the material things mentioned here are meant to be done by an individual, but any share in them would bring proportionate benefit for the deceased. The other thing mentioned in the above Hadith is knowledge, which is meant for peoples benefit. For example, to leave a book in a Madrassah, from which people will benefit as long as it lasts and which will remain a source of blessing for the deceased. Similar is the case of paying for someone to become a Hafiz or an Alim; as long as their knowledge or Hifz keeps spreading, whether the Hafiz or Alim is living or dead, the contributor will keep receiving the blessings. For example, the Hafiz taught the Quran to ten or twenty boys and he died, after which his pupils kept teaching and reading the Quran, as long as this system continues, the teacher (Hafiz) will perpetually receive its blessings, and so will the person who made the Hifz of the Hafiz possible. Still, in the larger sense, this grand system of teaching and learning will continue till Qiamah, and thus the original contributor will be the recipient of everlasting blessings, whether someone invokes them or not. The same applies to the making of an Alim, with its blessed results again. Here it is not necessary that the total expenses of making an Alim or Hafiz are to be borne for receiving benefits after death. Blessings till Qiamah shall accrue for any portion or share in it. Fortunate are the people who endeavour physically or financially to spread the right knowledge for the security and continuity of Deen. As life is no more than a dream, the termination of which can come about unexpectedly, whatever store of this sacred commodity one leaves behind will prove to be lastingly useful. The kith and kin, the relations and the friends will mourn him only for a few days and then become busy in their occupations, forgetting the deceased, whereas these contributions to Deen are the things of lasting benefit which one must deposit during ones lifetime in the perpetual treasury, assuring safety of the capital and accruing of profit till Qiamah. The third item mentioned in the above Hadith is virtuous children who will pray for the welfare of their deceased parents. In the first instance, the effort to make children virtuous in itself is a deed of perpetual benefit and, as long as they do

good deeds, the parents will keep receiving the blessings automatically. Their prayers for the benefit of the parents will be additional permanent treasure for the latter. Similarly, if someone starts an evil practice, he will suffer for the sin that he has committed and also for the sins of those who followed his bad example, without any reduction in the punishment of those who followed him. In another Hadith, it is said that the blessings for doing good deeds come to an end at ones death but, in the case of a person who is assigned the duty of defending his countrys frontiers, the blessings for him keep accruing till Qiamah. Building of a canal and planting a tree for the common good of the people come under the same category.