Lady Juwayriya (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that, by Allah, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not leave behind at the time of his death any dinar, dirham, slave, or slave-girl, except for his mule and his weapons, and a piece of land which he had given as charity.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, after his death, a believer continues to receive the reward of his deeds and good works. These are: the knowledge which he taught to others and took part in spreading; or he left behind righteous children; or he built a mosque; or he built a lodging for travelers; or he had a canal dug; or he gave any charity from his wealth during his health and lifetime—then the reward of these will continue to reach him after his death." Imam Abu Bakr (may Allah have mercy on him) says that the meaning of اْونَهْراً كَرَاهُ is "or he had a canal dug."

Abu Abdur Rahman Salmi narrates that when Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was besieged, he looked down at the people from the top of his house and addressed them, saying: "I remind you by the name of Allah. Do you know that no one could drink water from the well of Rumah without paying a price? Then I bought it and dedicated it as a waqf for every rich, poor, and traveler?" They replied, "Yes, (it happened like that)."

Hazrat Qushayri narrates that on the day when Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) was martyred, I was also present in that house. Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) looked at us and said, "O people, I ask you by Allah and remind you of the right of Islam, do you know that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, there was no well with sweet water in Madinah except the well of Rumah? So the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Who will buy the well of Rumah and make its bucket like the bucket of the Muslims (i.e., dedicate it as a waqf)? He will get a better well than it in Paradise.' The people replied, 'Yes, we know it well.' Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, 'So I bought that well with my pure wealth (and dedicated it for the Muslims), and (today) you prevent me from breaking my fast with the water of that well, until I am forced to break my fast with seawater.'"

Abu Saeed, the freed slave of Sayyiduna Abu Usaid Ansari, narrates that (during the siege) Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) looked out and said: "I ask you by Allah, do you know that I bought the sweet-water well of Rumah with my own wealth? And I made my bucket like that of an ordinary Muslim (I dedicated it for everyone)." The people said, "Yes." Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) asked, "Then why do you prevent me from drinking the sweet water of this well, to the extent that I am forced to break my fast with the salty water of the sea?"

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When a person dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: ongoing charity, knowledge from which people benefit, or a righteous child who prays for him."

Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The best things that a person leaves behind are three: a righteous child who prays for him, so his prayers reach him; or ongoing charity that he leaves behind, so its reward continues to reach him; or beneficial knowledge that he leaves behind, upon which people act (so he continues to receive its reward)."

Sayyiduna Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I submitted,“O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), my mother has passed away. Should I give charity on her behalf?”The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,“Yes, do so.”I asked,“Which charity is best?”The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,“Providing water (i.e., have a well dug and dedicate it as a waqf).”

Sayyiduna Sa’d bin ‘Ubadah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that I asked,“O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), which charity is best?”He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied:“Providing water is best.”