Sadaqa for a deceased mother or father: what can you do?

Yes, you can give sadaqa for your deceased mother or father. It is reported that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ exactly this about his mother, who had died suddenly, and that the answer was yes (al-Bukhari, n°1388). You give, you set the intention for your parent, and you entrust the rest to God.

If you are reading this soon after a death, nothing that follows is urgent. There is no deadline for giving charity for someone who has died.

Can you really give charity for a deceased parent?

Yes. The hadith quoted above is one of the texts most often recalled on this subject. The man said of his mother that, had she been able to speak, she would have given. Many people in mourning recognise themselves in that sentence.

Another text sheds light on the question. The Prophet ﷺ said that when the son of Adam dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: ongoing charity (Sadaqa Jariya), beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who makes dua for him (Muslim, n°1631).

“I did not have time to do enough for them”

This is a very common thought after losing a father or a mother. We think back to what we did not say, what we did not do.

The hadith of the three deeds brings something gentle here: you are part of what continues. A child who makes dua for their parent is mentioned alongside ongoing charity. Your duas count. The bond is not broken.

A sadaqa does not make up for guilt, and it does not have to. It is simply something good that you set down while thinking of them.

Which gestures are possible?

There is no single right way. Here is what families most often do, from the simplest to the most lasting:

• make dua for your parent regularly, which costs nothing;
• feed someone in need, setting the intention for them;
• give a small sum, even a modest one, to a cause you trust;
• take part in a project that lasts: a water point, a useful book, a fruit tree;
• carry on a good deed your parent was already doing during their lifetime.

The amount is not the point. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Protect yourselves from the Fire, even with half a date.” (al-Bukhari, n°1417). A small, sincere gesture has its place.

Sadaqa or Sadaqa Jariya for the dead: what is the difference?

A sadaqa is charity. A Sadaqa Jariya is charity whose effect continues: it keeps serving after the gesture. A meal feeds once. A fruit tree can feed people season after season.

For someone who has died, many families look for exactly this: something that lasts, because the person can no longer act. Both forms are good. The second simply extends over time.

Why some people choose a fruit tree

The Prophet ﷺ said: “No Muslim plants a tree or sows a crop from which a bird, a person or an animal eats, without it being counted for him as charity.” (al-Bukhari, n°2320).

A tree also has something particular when you are grieving: it exists somewhere. It carries a name. You can see it. For some, this helps to give a shape to the loss.

Nobody can promise you what this gesture will be worth with God. We do it sincerely, and we hope for the best for our parent, insha’Allah.

How it works with Fruit du Paradis

You choose a fruit tree and give the name of your mother or father. The tree is planted in Uganda by local teams. A sign bearing their name is placed next to the tree.

You then receive real photos and videos of the planting. These are images taken on site, not illustrations. You can share them with your brothers and sisters, or keep them to yourself.

The planting follows the farming seasons. You are told when it has been done.

Alone or as a family, both are possible. Some prefer a personal gesture, between themselves and their parent. Others bring brothers and sisters together around one tree, or several. When the loss is recent, deciding together can help. If it is not the right time, doing it alone takes nothing away.

When you are ready

You can choose a tree in the shop and link your mother’s or father’s name to it. If you would like a gesture that comes back every month in their memory, the monthly subscription plants one or more trees every month, and can be cancelled at any time. For a tribute carried by the whole family, there are also the packs and La Forêt.

Our other articles go into more detail on the three deeds that continue after death, and on how to plant in the name of several people who have died. May Allah have mercy on your parent.