A Wealthy Father is Obligated to Support His Needy Son
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
A wealthy father is obligated to provide for his needy son, and similarly, a wealthy son is obligated to provide for his needy father.
❶ Allah Almighty says:
فَإِنْ أَرْضَعْنَ لَكُمْ فَآتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ [At-Talaq: 6]
“If they nurse your children for you, give them their due payment.”
In this verse, the payment for breastfeeding a child is placed as the responsibility of the father.
❷ In the Hadith of Hind bint ‘Utbah (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
خذى ما يكفيك وولدك بالمعروف
“Take what is sufficient for you and your child in a reasonable manner (from the wealth of your husband).”
[Bukhari: 2211, Book of Sales: Chapter – Conducting transactions according to local custom; Muslim: 1714]
❶ Allah Almighty says:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا [Al-Isra: 23]
“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and show kindness to parents.”
Undoubtedly, providing for them in times of need is part of this kindness.
❷ And Allah says:
وَصَاحِبُهُمَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًا [Luqman: 10]
“Accompany them in the world with kindness.”
Worldly needs cannot be fulfilled without financial support.
❸ Narrated by ‘A’ishah (RA): The Prophet ﷺ said:
إن أطيب ما أكل الرجل من كسبه وولده من كسبه فكلوا من أموالهم
“Indeed, the purest thing a man eats is from his own earnings, and his children are part of his earnings, so eat from their wealth.”
[Sahih: Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 1626; Sahih Abu Dawud: 3013–3014, Book of Sales: Chapter – A man eating from the wealth of his child; Abu Dawud: 3528–3529; al-Nasa’i: 4449; Ibn Majah: 2290; al-Tirmidhi: 1358]
❹ Narrated by ‘Amr ibn Shu‘ayb, from his father, from his grandfather: The Prophet ﷺ said:
انت و مالك لأبيك
“You and your wealth belong to your father.”
[Sahih: Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 838; Sahih Abu Dawud: 3015; Ahmad: 2/214; Abu Dawud: 3530]
Ibn al-Mundhir states: The scholars have agreed that if parents are in financial hardship and have no source of income or wealth, their expenses are obligatory upon their children. Likewise, a person is obligated to provide for his minor children who have no wealth.
[Al-Mughni: 11/373]
Ibn Qudamah holds the same opinion.
[ibid.]
Conditions for the Obligation of Maintenance:
➊ The children or parents must be poor and have no wealth or source of income that makes them independent from the one obliged to support them.
➋ The one obliged to support them must have wealth beyond his own necessary expenses.
[Al-Mughni: 11/374]
As mentioned in the Hadith:
وإذا كان أحد كم فقيرا فليبدأ بنفسه فإن فضل فعلى عياله فإن كان فضل فعلي قرابته
“When one of you is poor, let him start (spending) on himself; if anything remains, then on his dependents; and if anything remains after that, then on his relatives.”
[Muslim: 2/693, Book of Zakah: Chapter – Beginning with oneself, then family, then relatives; Abu Dawud: 2/352; al-Nasa’i: 5215 – Al-Mujtaba; Ahmad: 3/305]
A man once said to the Prophet ﷺ: “I have one dinar.” He ﷺ said:
تصدق به على نفسك
“Spend it on yourself.”
The man said: “I have another.” The Prophet ﷺ said:
تصدق بــه عـلـى ولدك
“Spend it on your child.”
[Hasan: Sahih Abu Dawud: 1483, Book of Zakah: Chapter – Maintaining ties of kinship; Abu Dawud: 1691, from Abu Hurairah]
