Charity does not have to be limited to yourself. In Islam, you can give sadaqah on behalf of another person, whether they are alive or have passed away, and the reward can reach them. This is one of the reasons charity holds such a central place in Muslim life: it is a gift that keeps benefiting the person it is dedicated to, long after the moment itself has passed.
This guide looks at the Islamic basis for giving charity in someone else's name, the occasions Muslims commonly choose to do it, and how tools like MyTenNights, MyTenDays and MyFridays can help you set up a dedication that lasts.
Is It Permissible to Give Charity on Behalf of Someone Else?
Yes. Scholars broadly agree that the reward of charity can be dedicated to another person, and that Allah (SWT) can deliver that reward to them. This differs from acts of worship considered purely personal, such as the five daily prayers, where the majority view is that reward is not transferable in the same way.
Charity sits alongside dua (supplication) as one of the deeds most scholars agree can benefit someone else directly. This is why it has become such a common way for Muslims to mark a moment in another person's life, to remember them, or simply to do good on their behalf.
Can You Give Charity on Behalf of Someone Who Has Died?
Yes. This is the most established use of dedicated charity in Islam, and it is described directly in a hadith found in Sahih al-Bukhari.
A man came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and explained that his mother had died suddenly, without leaving a will, and asked whether it would benefit her if he gave charity on her behalf.
“A man said to the Prophet, 'My mother died suddenly, and I think that if she could speak, she would have given in charity. May I give in charity on her behalf?' He said, 'Yes, give in charity on her behalf.'”
The same principle appears again shortly after in the same book of Bukhari. Sa'd ibn Ubadah's mother died while he was away, and when he asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the same question, he was told yes. Sa'd then dedicated his garden as charity in her memory, an early example of what is known as sadaqah jariyah: ongoing charity whose reward continues long after the original gift is given.
This is why sadaqah jariyah given in memory of someone who has died (for example, funding a water well, a share in a mosque, or a scholarship in their name) is one of the most encouraged forms of charity in Islam. It is also one of the three things the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said continue to benefit a person after death, alongside beneficial knowledge and a righteous child who prays for them. Many people choose to give this kind of charity on the anniversary of a loved one's passing, or simply whenever they want to send them reward.
Can You Give Charity on Behalf of a Living Person?
Yes. You do not need someone's permission to donate on their behalf. Many people do it as a quiet gesture, to support someone going through a hard time, to mark a happy occasion, or simply as an act of kindness given in their name.
If the person you have in mind is unwell, we cover this in detail in our dedicated guide to giving charity for someone who is sick. Here, it is enough to say that charity given while asking Allah (SWT) for someone's shifa (healing) is a long standing practice, and one many people turn to when a loved one is in hospital or recovering.
What Are the Most Common Occasions for Giving Charity in Someone's Name?
People give charity in someone else's name for all kinds of reasons, not only loss. Here are some of the moments it comes up most often.
- A birth: charity marking a new baby sits naturally alongside the Sunnah of aqeeqah, as a way of thanking Allah (SWT) for a safe delivery and a new life.
- A death: the most established use of dedicated charity, most often given as sadaqah jariyah so the reward keeps reaching the person long after the funeral.
- Illness or recovery: charity is commonly given while praying for someone's healing. We go into this in far more depth in our guide to giving charity for someone who is sick.
- A marriage: some couples or their families give charity instead of, or alongside, wedding gifts, as a way of starting married life with a good deed.
- A new home: charity given when someone moves house is a way of asking for barakah (blessing) on the new home and everyone living in it.
- A new job: giving in someone's name when they start a role or get a promotion is a way of thanking Allah (SWT) for the opportunity.
- Recovery from a difficulty: beyond illness, this includes coming through financial hardship, a hard exam, or any other period of struggle.
- As a gift instead of a material present: for birthdays, Eid, or any other occasion, a dedicated donation is an alternative to a physical gift, one that benefits the receiver spiritually rather than materially.
If the occasion happens to fall near the last ten nights of Ramadan or the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, it is worth dedicating a MyTenNights or MyTenDays donation in someone's name, since good deeds are multiplied in these periods. Outside of those seasonal windows, MyFridays lets you set up a recurring Friday donation in someone's name, so the dedication continues automatically rather than being a single, one off gift.
Why Is Giving Charity in Someone's Name a Meaningful Gift?
It is meaningful because the benefit does not stop with one person. Charity given in someone's name reaches at least three people: you, as the giver, receive reward for the act itself; the person you dedicate it to receives reward, whether they are alive or have passed away; and whoever the charity actually helps, whether that is a family receiving aid or a community gaining clean water, benefits directly.
This is different to a material gift, which usually benefits only the receiver, and only for as long as the item lasts. A donation given in someone's name can carry on giving reward well beyond the moment it was given, especially when it takes the form of sadaqah jariyah.
How Do You Give Charity on Behalf of Someone Else?
In practice, it is simple: you make the donation and set the intention (niyyah) in your heart, or with your family, that the reward is for a specific person. No script or ceremony is required.
Some people prefer to give during especially rewarded times, such as the last ten nights of Ramadan through MyTenNights or the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah through MyTenDays. Others prefer an ongoing dedication, such as a MyFridays donation given every week in memory of a parent, or on behalf of a family member going through a difficult period. Either way, the intention behind the gift matters far more than the amount or the method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permission to give charity on behalf of someone who is alive?
No. You can donate on someone's behalf without asking them first, although many people choose to tell the person as part of the gift, for example at a wedding or after a new job.
Does the deceased need to have left a will for charity to reach them?
No. The hadith of the man whose mother died suddenly, without a will, is a key basis scholars use to show that charity given after someone's death still reaches them, will or no will.
Can charity given in someone's name count as their Zakat?
No. Zakat is an obligation tied to a person's own wealth and intention. Charity given in someone's name is usually voluntary sadaqah, a separate and additional act of giving.
Is there a minimum amount needed for charity in someone's name to count?
No. What matters is the intention behind the gift, not its size. Even a small, regular donation, such as a recurring MyFridays gift, can be dedicated in someone's name.
Can I dedicate charity to more than one person at once?
Yes. You can give a single donation and dedicate the reward to several people at once, for example both parents, or a group of relatives who have passed away.
