Given this, a rational person makes the most of life’s opportunities to obey Allah before death overtakes him and he can neither seek pardon nor repent. Our statement that “his deeds come to an end” covers every deed—nothing more is recorded for him or against him once he dies—for he has moved on to the realm of recompense. The realm of action is this present world; every abode thereafter is an abode of reward, save for three exceptions:

1. A perpetual charity (ṣadaqah jāriyah). This means a person gives something in charity whose benefit continues after him. The finest example is building mosques, for the builder’s reward flows as long as the mosque stands, night and day, while Muslims remain there praying, reciting the Quran, learning and teaching knowledge, and engaging in other acts of devotion.

   Among perpetual charities is establishing a waqf—setting aside property, farmland, or the like—for the poor and needy, for students of knowledge, for those striving in Allah’s cause, and similar purposes. Also included is printing beneficial books for Muslims to read and profit from, whether the works are by contemporary authors or earlier scholars; what matters is that they be useful books from which Muslims will benefit after the donor’s death. Repairing roads likewise counts as a perpetual charity: if someone improves the roads and removes harm from them, and people continue to benefit, that is part of ongoing charity.

   The guiding principle for a perpetual charity is: every righteous act whose benefit endures for a person after his death.