It is Not Obligatory for a Close Relative to Bear the Expenses of Another Close Relative
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
It is not obligatory for a close relative to bear the expenses of another close relative; however, it may be done as an act of Ṣilah Raḥmī (maintaining ties of kinship).
There is no clear evidence to suggest that it is obligatory upon a person to bear the expenses of all relatives. Nevertheless, it is permissible to do so as Ṣilah Raḥmī, because its legitimacy is proven by explicit texts from the Qur'an and Sunnah, as highlighted below:
❶ Allah Almighty says:
وَأُولُو الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ [Al-Anfal: 75]
"And those who are bound by ties of kinship are nearer to one another."
❷ Narrated by Anas (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من أحب أن يبسط له فى رزقه وأن ينسأ له فى اثره فليقل رحمه
"Whoever wishes that his provision be expanded and his life prolonged should maintain ties of kinship."
[Bukhari: 5986, Book of Manners: Chapter – One who maintains ties of kinship will have his provision expanded; Muslim: 2557]
❸ There is consensus (Ijma‘) on the legitimacy of Ṣilah Raḥmī.
[Al-Mawsū‘ah al-Ijmā‘iyyah fi al-Fiqh al-Islāmī: 1/426]
It is thus clear that giving financial support to close relatives can be part of Ṣilah Raḥmī, as the Qur'an explicitly states:
وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ [An-Nisa: 36]
"Show kindness to parents and to close relatives."
And in another verse:
وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ [Al-Isra: 26]
"Give the relative his due."
Therefore, one should first provide for parents, children, and family members whose maintenance is obligatory upon him. Then, if wealth remains in excess of one’s needs, it should be given to close relatives who are needy and in distress. This is supported by the following Hadith:
❶ Narrated by Tariq al-Muharibi (RA): The Prophet ﷺ said:
يـد الـمـعـطـى الـعـلـيـا وابدأ بمن تعول
"The giving hand is superior, and start with those you are responsible for."
This includes your mother, father, sister, and brother:
ثم أدناك فادناك
"Then give to those who are nearest, and then those who are next in nearness."
[Sahih: Sahih al-Nasa’i: 2372, Book of Zakah: Chapter – Which hand is superior; Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 3/319; al-Nasa’i: 2533; al-Daraqutni: 3/44]
❷ Narrated by Bahz ibn Hakim, from his father, from his grandfather: I said: O Messenger of Allah! With whom should I show kindness and do good? The Prophet ﷺ said: "With your mother." I said: Then who? He ﷺ said: "Your mother." I said: Then who? He ﷺ said: "Your mother." I said: Then who? He ﷺ said: "Your father,"
ثم الأقرب فالأقرب
"Then the nearest, then the next nearest."
[Hasan Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 4285, Book of Manners: Chapter – Regarding honoring the mother; Abu Dawud: 5139; al-Tirmidhi: 1897; Ahmad: 5/302]
Note: Whoever is obliged to maintain another person must also provide clothing and housing for them, as these are included in the essential living expenses, proven by the previously mentioned Qur'anic verses and Hadiths.
Author: Imran Ayyub Lahori
It is not obligatory for a close relative to bear the expenses of another close relative; however, it may be done as an act of Ṣilah Raḥmī (maintaining ties of kinship).
There is no clear evidence to suggest that it is obligatory upon a person to bear the expenses of all relatives. Nevertheless, it is permissible to do so as Ṣilah Raḥmī, because its legitimacy is proven by explicit texts from the Qur'an and Sunnah, as highlighted below:
❶ Allah Almighty says:
وَأُولُو الْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ [Al-Anfal: 75]
"And those who are bound by ties of kinship are nearer to one another."
❷ Narrated by Anas (RA): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من أحب أن يبسط له فى رزقه وأن ينسأ له فى اثره فليقل رحمه
"Whoever wishes that his provision be expanded and his life prolonged should maintain ties of kinship."
[Bukhari: 5986, Book of Manners: Chapter – One who maintains ties of kinship will have his provision expanded; Muslim: 2557]
❸ There is consensus (Ijma‘) on the legitimacy of Ṣilah Raḥmī.
[Al-Mawsū‘ah al-Ijmā‘iyyah fi al-Fiqh al-Islāmī: 1/426]
It is thus clear that giving financial support to close relatives can be part of Ṣilah Raḥmī, as the Qur'an explicitly states:
وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَبِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ [An-Nisa: 36]
"Show kindness to parents and to close relatives."
And in another verse:
وَآتِ ذَا الْقُرْبَىٰ حَقَّهُ [Al-Isra: 26]
"Give the relative his due."
Therefore, one should first provide for parents, children, and family members whose maintenance is obligatory upon him. Then, if wealth remains in excess of one’s needs, it should be given to close relatives who are needy and in distress. This is supported by the following Hadith:
❶ Narrated by Tariq al-Muharibi (RA): The Prophet ﷺ said:
يـد الـمـعـطـى الـعـلـيـا وابدأ بمن تعول
"The giving hand is superior, and start with those you are responsible for."
This includes your mother, father, sister, and brother:
ثم أدناك فادناك
"Then give to those who are nearest, and then those who are next in nearness."
[Sahih: Sahih al-Nasa’i: 2372, Book of Zakah: Chapter – Which hand is superior; Irwa’ al-Ghalil: 3/319; al-Nasa’i: 2533; al-Daraqutni: 3/44]
❷ Narrated by Bahz ibn Hakim, from his father, from his grandfather: I said: O Messenger of Allah! With whom should I show kindness and do good? The Prophet ﷺ said: "With your mother." I said: Then who? He ﷺ said: "Your mother." I said: Then who? He ﷺ said: "Your mother." I said: Then who? He ﷺ said: "Your father,"
ثم الأقرب فالأقرب
"Then the nearest, then the next nearest."
[Hasan Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 4285, Book of Manners: Chapter – Regarding honoring the mother; Abu Dawud: 5139; al-Tirmidhi: 1897; Ahmad: 5/302]
Note: Whoever is obliged to maintain another person must also provide clothing and housing for them, as these are included in the essential living expenses, proven by the previously mentioned Qur'anic verses and Hadiths.
