Which is better: sponsoring a Quran memorizer for a full year, or a shallow well, given their similar cost?

The prioritization between good deeds is influenced by several Sharia considerations, including:

1. People's Need and Continuous Benefit: The best charity is that which meets a dire need and its benefit continues, such as providing water in places where water is scarce and thirst is prevalent. 2. Transitive Benefit: A deed whose benefit extends to others is better than a deed whose benefit is limited to its doer. For this reason, communal obligations (fard kifayah) are preferred over individual obligations (fard ayn). 3. Bringing Benefit to the Religion: Charity that serves the interest of Allah's religion, such as establishing the religion and suppressing its enemies, is more deserving and greater in reward, even if the beneficiary is in less need.

Accordingly, an absolute preference cannot be made between sponsoring a Quran memorizer and digging a well; rather, the preference is relative and depends on the fulfillment of these considerations in each case.