Your lasting legacy
Turn One-Third of Your Estate Into Sadaqah Jariyah
The Prophet ﷺ taught that when we die, our deeds stop — except three, and the first is sadaqah jariyah: charity that keeps giving, and keeps rewarding you, long after you're gone. Islam hands you a remarkable tool to set it up: you can dedicate up to one-third of everything you own to ongoing charity through the bequest in your will. Here's what it can fund, the rules, and how to make it real.
ShariaWiz records your wasiyyah & can structure a family waqf
Direct answer
How much of my estate can I give to charity in Islam?
Up to one-third. The bequest (wasiyyah) lets you direct a maximum of one-third of your estate to non-heirs and charitable causes; the other two-thirds must go to your Quranic heirs by Faraid. Turning part of the one-third into a waqf makes it perpetual sadaqah jariyah.
Sadaqah jariyah is ongoing charity whose reward continues after death. Your will can fund it: Islam lets you bequeath up to one-third of your estate to non-heirs and charitable causes, while the other two-thirds passes to your Quranic heirs by Faraid. The one-third can build a masjid or well, endow education, fund a waqf, or provide for loved ones who aren't Faraid heirs. It cannot go to an existing heir.
- Sadaqah jariyah = charity that keeps rewarding you after death
- You can will up to one-third to charity / non-heirs
- The other two-thirds must follow Faraid
- No bequest to an existing heir (avoids double-allocation)
- A waqf turns the gift into a perpetual endowment
What Is Sadaqah Jariyah?
The Prophet ﷺ said: "When a person dies, all their deeds end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, or a righteous child who prays for them" (Sahih Muslim). Sadaqah jariyah is that first category — a good whose benefit keeps flowing to people, and whose reward keeps flowing to you, after death. A will is uniquely powerful for it, because it lets you commit a meaningful share of your lifetime's wealth to a cause in one stroke.
Ideas for Your One-Third
Build or endow a masjid or well
Classic sadaqah jariyah — a place of worship, a water well, or wudu facilities that serve people for generations.
Fund education
Sponsor students, endow a scholarship, or support a school or Quran institute. Beneficial knowledge that spreads is explicitly named in the hadith.
Endow a waqf
A perpetual endowment whose income funds a cause forever — the most enduring form of sadaqah jariyah, and increasingly accessible through Islamic family waqf structures.
Support orphans & the poor
Direct part of your one-third to orphan sponsorship, food relief, or healthcare for those in need.
Distribute Qurans & da'wah
Fund copies of the Quran, Islamic literature, or da'wah work — beneficial knowledge that keeps yielding reward.
Provide for non-Faraid loved ones
The one-third can also go to people who aren't your Quranic heirs — a non-Muslim parent, a foster child, or a grandchild through a daughter.
The Rules of the One-Third Bequest
Two rules govern the bequest. First, the one-third cap: when Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas wished to give away most of his wealth, the Prophet ﷺ limited him to a third, saying "one-third, and one-third is a lot", adding that leaving your heirs self-sufficient is better than leaving them dependent (Bukhari). Second, the no-bequest-to-an-heir rule: because your Faraid heirs already receive fixed shares from the other two-thirds, you cannot also will them part of the one-third. That keeps the bequest for charity and for those outside the Quranic shares — see providing for non-Muslim family and grandchildren through daughters.
How to Set It Up
A charitable intention only becomes sadaqah jariyah when it's actually documented and enforceable. Name your causes and amounts (up to one-third) in a legally valid Islamic will, and for a perpetual gift, direct part of the one-third into a waqf.
ShariaWiz lets you record your one-third charitable bequest inside a scholar-reviewed Islamic will, and can structure an Islamic Family Waqf for a perpetual endowment. Islamic will from $199; trusts and waqf structures from $499.
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Consider Consulting an Islamic Scholar
Major charitable bequests and waqf in Islam decisions often involve nuances that vary by scholarly opinion and personal circumstance. While HalalWallet provides educational comparisons and tools, we are not scholars or financial advisors. For personal guidance on Shariah compliance, consider speaking with a qualified Islamic scholar, your local imam, or a Shariah-certified financial advisor familiar with your situation.
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Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-06-09
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