Sadaqa- e- Jaaria
Sadqa-e-Jaria in a nutshell is an idea of a continuous support for our good deeds with respect to the scale of justice on the judgement day. It goes in both ways, continues good deeds or continues bad deeds. *Therefore, as per quran we must call it AMAL-E-JARIA*
The concept is that, when we do some work in this dunya that continues to BENEFIT or HARM the Allah’s creations mankind and other life forms in this world, even after our death, it continues to add to our scale of justice. The continuous after-effects of those deeds, good or bad, will be accounted for on the day of judgment.
Please note that these deeds will be accounted for on the day of judgment for that person who did it, and it will give gain or loss according to the deeds of the deceased which he or she did when alive. Please refer the ayah below;
[Ya Sin 36:12] Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.
As per above ayah we can understand these are the deeds that benefits the mankind and other lifeforms, these are not the rituals like namaz, nafil namaz, dua or hajj, which are only for our own benefits. For instance compare effects on humanity by making a masjid (when there are already so many) with the effects by installing a water well in a deserted area; or building a hospital or a free clinic; or inventing a vaccine; or scientific research or an invention which gives a new path to humanity to improve their lives; welfare foundations for humans or other lifeforms etc. These are the all the good deeds which have continuous effects and will give some benefit in the Hereafter and will continue to be recorded even after we die.
*Sadqa-eJaria for the Deceased* Please keep in mind, if some one else do it for the deceased person, it is too late, for instance, giving a sadqa in the name of a deceased. It will definitely give benefit to the one who actually does it on behalf of the deceased person. But whatever we do with our own hands by ourselves will benefit us in the Hereafter, not if it is done by someone else, after we die. Once we are dead, all the doors are closed except our own performed good deeds and bad deeds and also if they have any continues effects on humanity and other lifeforms.