On the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra), the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three: a continuous charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), knowledge from which benefit is gained, and a righteous child who prays for him’.
(Sahih Muslim)
Sadaqah Jariyah means a continuous, flowing and ongoing charity. It is one of the most rewarding acts we can do in our lives as the benefits of giving this type of charity can be reaped in this lifetime and long after we have passed.
For example, providing someone food to eat is a Sadaqah and will benefit that person in that moment whereas building a well where people can regularly draw water is a Sadaqah Jariyah and will benefit people for generations to come and in turn, will continue benefiting you in both worlds.