Obligation Of Spending On Parents And Grandparents
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & Answers
Is it
obligatory for me to spend on my father and
grandfather? Please note that I am female.
Praise be to Allaah.
The child –
male or female – is obliged to spend on his (or her)
parents if they are poor and he is rich. The
obligation of spending on them is indicated by the
Qur'aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus (ijmaa').
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but
Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents"
[al-Isra' 17:23].
Being dutiful includes spending on them if they are in
need.
It was narrated from 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased
with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Among the best of that
which a man consumes is what he earns (by his own
efforts), and his son is part of that which he earns."
Narrated by Abu Dawood (3528) and classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Ibn al-Mundhir said: The scholars are unanimously
agreed that spending on poor parents who have no
income or wealth is an obligation on the child's
wealth. End quote.
A man asked the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him): Which of the people is most deserving of
my good companionship? He said: "Your mother." He
said: Then who? He said: "Then your mother." He said:
Then who? He said: "Then your mother." He said: Then
who? He said: "Then your father." Narrated by al-Bukhaari
(5971) and Muslim (2548).
It is obligatory to spend on grandfathers and
grandmothers on the father's side and on the mother's.
This is the view of the majority of scholars
(including the three imams, Abu Haneefah, al-Shaafa'i
and Ahmad), because the grandfather is also called a
"father". Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"it is the religion of your father Ibraaheem
(Abraham)" [al-Hajj 22:78].
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "And
marry not women whom your fathers married" [al-Nisa'
4:22]. Here "fathers" includes the father and the
grandfather on both the father's and mother's side.
And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "For
parents, a sixth share of inheritance to each if the
deceased left children" [al-Nisa' 4:11]. Here
"parents" includes both the grandfather and the
grandmother.
The grandmother is also called a mother. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): "Forbidden to you
(for marriage) are: your mothers" [al-Nisa' 4:23].
This includes the mother and grandmother, according to
scholarly consensus.
As the grandfather is called a "father" and the
grandmother is called a "mother", they are included in
the evidence which indicates that it is obligatory to
be dutiful towards one's parents and spend on them.
See: al-Mughni (11/372).
Ibn 'Uthaymeen said in al-Sharh al-Mumti'
(13/498-499), in the chapter on spending on relatives:
The ascendants are those from whom you stem of fathers
and mothers.
The descendants are those who stem from you of sons
and daughters.
Then he said:
It should be noted that this topic is like the topic
of prohibition of marriage, and there is no difference
between the father's side and the mother's side. The
ascendants and descendants are the same, whether they
are relatives on the mother's side or relatives on the
father's side. You are obliged to spend on them, but
that is subject to conditions. End quote.
In order for it to be obligatory to spend on fathers
and grandfathers, they should be poor and the child
should be rich, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Start with
yourself and give charity to yourself. If there is
anything left over, then (give) to your family. If
there is anything left over from your family, then
(give) to your relatives." Narrated by Muslim (997).
Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) said: If
the parents are poor and the daughter has wealth
surplus to her needs, then she is obliged to spend on
her parents according to their needs, without it
detracting from her needs. End quote.
Based on this, the woman is obliged to spend on her
parents if she is rich and they are poor.
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments