Endowment for Allah´s Sake

 An endowment is the act of specifying a part of one´s wealth, such as real estate, a farm, or furniture not for sale and the income that accrues from that portion of the wealth is spent on pious endeavours as a means of nearness to Allah, the Exalted.

Such wealth is considered ongoing charity. The Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam said:

When a man dies, his deeds come to an end, except three: ongoing charity, knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a righteous son, who prays for him (the deceased).´´207

The Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam also said:

Part of the good deeds that reach a believe after his death are: knowledge that he inparted and spread; a righteous child that he left behind, a copy of the Qur´an which he bequeathed; a mosque which he built; a house which he built for the wayfarer; a river which he dredged; or charity that he gave during his lifetime whilst he was healty. These deeds will reach him after his death.´´208

He also said:

Whoever tethers a horse in the cause of Allah; motivated by his faith in Allah and his belief in His Promise, he will be rewarded on the Day of Resurrection for what the horse has eaten or drunk and for its dung and urine.´´209

Abu Talhah was the riches of the Ansaar in Madinah and the dearest of his property to him was Bairuha; a garden of date palms which was located in the neighbourhood of the (Prophet´s) Mosque. The Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam used to enter it and drink of its good fresh water.

When the following verse was revealed:

By on means shall you attain righteousness unless you spend (in chairty) of that which you love.´ (Aal-Imraan: 92)

Abu Talhah got up, went to the Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam and said, O Allah´s Mesenger salla alayhi wa sallam! Allah says in His Book:

By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you spend of that which you love.´

The most dearest of my property to me is the garden of Bairuha, and I want to give it in charity in Allah´s Cause; seeking to be rewarded by Allah for that. So you can spend it as you wish, O Allah´s Messenger salla alayhi wa sallam. Allah´s Mesenger salla alayhi wa sallam said:

´´Good! That is a profitable wealth! That is a profitable wealth! I have heard what you have said concerning it but in my opinion you should give it to your relatives.´´ Thus, Abu Talhah distributed that garden among his relatives and causins.210

Ibn Umar said: Umar acquired a land at Khaibar: So, he came to the Prophet salla alayhi wa sallam and sought his advice concerning it. He said:´ Allah´s Mesenger, I have acquired (some) land in Khaibar. I have never acquired property more valuable for me than this, so what do you command me to do with it? Thereupon the Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam said:´ If you wish, you may retain the principal and give its produce as sadaqah.´

So Umar gave it as sadaqah and declared that the property must not be sold, inherited or given away as agift. Thus, he devoted it to the poor, to the nearest kin, and to the emancipation of slaves in the way of Allah, wayfarers and guests. There is no sin for one, who administers it if he eats somehing from it in a reasonable manner or if he feeds his friends and does not hoard up goods (for himself).´´211

Endowment is one of the aspects of Islam which weighs heavy on the scale. The Messenger of Allah salla alayhi wa sallam of said:

Whoever tethers a horse in the cause of Allah; montivated by his faith in Allah and his belief in His Promise, then whatever the horse has eaten or dunk and it dung will be in his scale on the Day of Resurrection.´´212

The headith contains an encouragment for a Muslim to give something in endowment so that s/he may obtain its benefit. So, whoever tethers a horse in the cause of Allah, the horse´s eating to its fill, its watering and dung - i.e. its ingestion and excreation - all of these will be heavy on the scale of his/her good deeds on the Day of Resurrection.