Environmental Protection as Sadaqah Jariya
Key Takeaways
Sadaqah Jariya refers to an ongoing form of charity in Islam, which continues to provide benefits and rewards long after the original act is completed.
The central idea of Sadaqah Jariya is that some good deeds in Islam transcend a person’s life, as they continue to provide benefit to others.
Environmental protection, such as through planting trees and living a zero-waste lifestyle, qualifies as the greatest form of sadaqah jariya in present times. This is because it enables us to leave behind a better world for future generations of humans and animals.
The distribution of charity occupies an important position within Islam, as social welfare is highly emphasized by the religion. There are different categories of charity in Islam, one of which is Sadaqah, a specific charity that is given voluntarily to please Allah (SWT).
Such voluntary giving in Allah’s (SWT) way has been extensively praised in Islam, as the Qur’an describes it as one of the conditions for attaining true righteousness:
It is also described as a source of comfort [1] on Qiyamah (the Day of Judgement) as well as something that wipes away our sins. [2]
Sadaqah Jariya – The charity that goes on
One of the most important kinds of Sadaqah is Sadaqah Jariya. It refers to an ongoing charity, which continues to benefit a person even after they’ve passed away. Consider the following Hadith:
The central idea of Sadaqah Jariya is that one does not have to be alive to do good and obtain ajr (reward) from the Almighty. And that there are some good deeds in Islam that transcend a person’s life and are rewarded for conferring benefits to future generations. Therefore, Sadaqah Jariya is about leaving a lasting positive impact on the world.
Now that we’ve understood the concept of Sadaqah Jariya, let us consider some Prophetic wisdom from the Hadith literature to see why environmental protection is a form of Sadaqah Jariya.
Environmental Protection – The Sadaqah Jariya that the World Needs
The Prophet (SAW) left us with a beautiful tradition of environmental protection and care. Through his Sunnah, his Sirah (Prophetic biography), and his words, he gifted us with many important lessons on the importance of protecting the environment within Islam.
One hadith that displays this perfectly, and is clear evidence of how environmental protection is a form of Sadaqah Jariya, is the following:
Therefore, when we Muslims plant trees and care for them, we are rewarded for the ongoing benefits that others obtain from them. One beautiful detail to keep in mind from this hadith is that we are rewarded for the benefit we leave behind for any living being, not just humans.
In addition to the benefits that individual humans or animals can obtain from it, the act of planting trees is especially important in our present era marked by the climate crisis and global warming. Planting trees has been recognized as an important means of mitigating climate change, helping to cool city streets and reduce urban air pollution, the second-leading risk factor contributing to global deaths.
Thus, by combining insights from the scientific literature with wisdom from the Prophetic tradition, one could argue that engaging in sustainable behaviors, such as planting trees, is one of the greatest forms of Sadaqah Jariya Muslims could partake in. The opportunity (and need) to leave behind a positive impact for future generations is unparalleled in contemporary times and should be a part of all our charitable efforts.
However, there is another form of environmental protection that equally qualifies as an incredible source of ongoing Sadaqah in the present era.
Removing harm from the Earth – An Important Sadaqah Jariya
Removing harmful things to avoid future harm/injury/damage (dharar) is also a form of Sadaqah, as established by the following Hadith:
The idea of removing harm for the sake of others as being a form of charity is particularly poignant considering our present way of life. Through the incredible amount of pollution our consumerist lifestyle is producing, the razing of forests for our insatiable demand for meat, the destruction of essential ecosystems, and by contributing to a constantly rising global temperature, we’re acting in the exact opposite manner to this injunction. Rather than removing harm for future generations, we’re leaving behind a broken, barren world for them.
It is thus absolutely vital that we revert back to this Prophetic injunction and change our ways. By adopting a zero-waste and sustainable lifestyle, as well as striving for environmental protection, we can make sure that we reduce and remove our harmful impact on the Earth, thereby better embodying the Prophetic example and leaving behind a Sadaqah Jariya in the form of a better world for future generations.
Spreading this Sadaqah Jariya
If you’re ready to take up our divine duty toward environmental protection and leave behind a better legacy, visit our global list of environmental organizations, where you can find all kinds of organizations near you that you can volunteer with and make a positive impact.
[1] “The shade of the believer on the Day of Resurrection is his charity.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW) (Musnad Aḥmad, 23490)
[2] “Sadaqah (charity) extinguishes sins just as water extinguishes fire.” – Prophet Muhammad (SAW) (Tirmidhi, 614)
