Hadith Text & Reference

"When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: Continuing charity, knowledge that others benefited from, and a righteous son who supplicates for him."

Source: The Chapters On Judgements From The Messenger of Allah, Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Hadith: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1376

General Meaning & Significance

This noble hadith establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic eschatology: that the record of a person's deeds is sealed at death. However, Allah in His infinite mercy has made exceptions for three types of ongoing righteous actions whose rewards continue to reach the deceased.

This provides immense comfort to believers, showing that they can continue to earn reward in the afterlife through specific virtuous deeds performed during their earthly life.

Scholarly Commentary on the Three Exceptions

1. Continuing Charity (Sadaqah Jariyah): This refers to any charitable act that continues to benefit people after one's death. The scholars mention examples such as building mosques, schools, hospitals, digging wells, planting trees, publishing beneficial books, or establishing any endowment (waqf) that serves the community. The reward continues as long as people benefit from it.

2. Beneficial Knowledge: This encompasses both religious and worldly knowledge that brings benefit to others. This includes teaching Quran, Hadith, Islamic sciences, or any beneficial worldly knowledge like medicine, engineering, etc., when taught with righteous intention. Writing books, developing educational curricula, or any means through which knowledge is disseminated and continues to benefit people after one's death falls under this category.

3. Righteous Child Who Prays: The "righteous son" in the hadith includes both male and female children according to most scholars. The righteousness of the child is essential - their good character and obedience to Allah make their supplications for their parents more likely to be accepted. This demonstrates the importance of proper upbringing (tarbiyah) and the ongoing connection between parents and children even after death.

Legal & Theological Implications

The scholars derive from this hadith that supplication for the deceased is valid and beneficial, and its reward reaches them. This supports the practice of making du'a for deceased Muslims.

It also emphasizes the importance of intention (niyyah) in our actions, as these three exceptions are deeds whose effects extend beyond our lifetime based on the intentions with which they were initiated.

The hadith encourages Muslims to invest in projects with lasting benefit and to raise children upon righteousness, as these become ongoing sources of reward after death.