Last updated: 14 October 2026 | Written for Eid ul Adha 2027
Qurbani Easy Editorial Team • Advised by our panel of Islamic scholars
Quick Answer: From the sources we opened, giving falls into two kinds: obligatory (wajib), such as Zakat, and voluntary (nafl). Within voluntary giving, a hadith in Sahih Muslim names recurring charity (sadaqah jariyah) as a deed whose reward continues after death. This guide goes through nafilah, jariyah and wajibah with what the sources say, and nothing more.
Sadaqah is a wide word. People use it for a coin to a beggar, a standing donation for a well, and for the obligatory dues. The three headings below are the ones people search for. We keep to what we could open and check.
Wajibah: obligatory giving
The Hanafi answer from Muftionline.co.za says nafl sadaqah and khayraat can be given to anybody, whereas wajib giving must go to the recipients of Zakat, and gives the expiation for breaking an oath as an example of a wajib sadaqah. Zakat is covered in Sadaqah, Zakat and Fitrana compared.
Nafilah: voluntary giving
The Shafi’i answer defines Sadaqa as voluntary charity and quotes the Reliance of the Traveller that giving voluntary charity is recommended at all times, especially in Ramadan and at noble times and places. The Hanafi answer says it can be given to anybody. The size of a voluntary gift is not fixed.
Save yourself from Hell-fire even by giving half a date-fruit in charity.
Narrated by Adi bin Hatim; Sahih al-Bukhari 1417
Jariyah: recurring charity
When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three: recurring charity, or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious child who prays for him.
Reported by Abu Huraira; Sahih Muslim 1631
The report names recurring charity but does not list examples in the English wording we read. Which acts count is a matter for scholars, and we did not open a source that lists them, so we do not.
Sadaqah is wider than money
Sadaqa is due on every joint of a person, every day the sun rises. Administering of justice between two men is also a Sadaqa. And assisting a man to ride upon his beast, or helping him load his luggage upon it, is a Sadaqa; and a good word is a Sadaqa; and every step that you take towards prayer is a Sadaqa, and removing of harmful things from the pathway is a Sadaqa.
Reported by Abu Huraira; Sahih Muslim 1009
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the types of Sadaqah?
The fatwa sources we opened divide giving into obligatory (wajib), such as Zakat, and voluntary (nafl). A hadith in Sahih Muslim (1631) names a third category in its wording, “recurring charity”, as one of three deeds that continue after death. This guide uses those three names as headings; they are not one official list.
What is Sadaqah Jariyah?
In Sahih Muslim 1631 Abu Huraira reports that when a man dies, his acts come to an end except three: recurring charity, knowledge that people benefit from, or a pious child who prays for him. We have not opened a fatwa listing what counts as recurring charity, so we do not give a list.
Is a smile or kind word Sadaqah?
Sahih Muslim 1009 says a good word is a sadaqa, and so are administering justice between two men, helping a man with his animal or luggage, every step towards prayer and removing harmful things from the path.
Can I give Sadaqah to a non-Muslim?
The Shafi’i answer we opened says it is permissible to give charity to a non-Muslim, but not Zakat. The Hanafi answer says nafl sadaqah can be given to anybody.
Does Qurbani Easy offer Sadaqah?
Yes. Booking is open throughout the year, with four options (chicken, sheep or she-goat, goat, buffalo). See which Sadqah option fits you.
Related guides: Sadaqah, Zakat and Fitrana compared; secret or open Sadaqah.
Ready to give? You can give Sadqah online on our website.
Citation Sources
• Sahih Muslim 1631 (Abu Huraira) — recurring charity continues after death; checked on sunnah.com.
• Sahih Muslim 1009 (Abu Huraira) — Sadaqa on every joint, and the acts that count; checked on sunnah.com.
• Sahih al-Bukhari 1417 (Adi bin Hatim) — half a date-fruit in charity; checked on sunnah.com.
• Muftionline.co.za (Hanafi), “Khairaat and sadaqa” — islamqa.org — wajib and nafl sadaqah and their recipients.
• SeekersGuidance (Shafi’i), via islamqa.org — islamqa.org — Sadaqa as voluntary charity; recommended at all times; non-Muslim recipients.
Madhab note: Hanafi and Shafi’i sources are shown side by side; for the Maliki and Hanbali schools we did not find a source we could open. The three headings are search terms, not one fixed classification from a single source.