The Committed Believer · Kindness in the Family

Family Financial Ethics in Islam

Explore rulings on financial interactions and responsibilities within Muslim families.

6 questions · Medium · about 3 minutes

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6 questions, about 3 minutes.

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1. When may a child take from a parent’s wealth without the parent’s knowledge?

  • When it is only enough for necessary maintenance and there is no other way to obtain it. (correct answer)
  • Whenever the child wants extra spending money.
  • Whenever the parent is wealthy.
  • Only after the parent has died.

Why

If a parent is obliged to spend on the child and the child has no way to obtain necessary maintenance except by taking from the parent’s wealth, then the child may take what is sufficient for basic needs such as food, drink, and clothing on a reasonable basis. This permission does not apply to taking extra money for comfort, luxury, or personal increase.

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2. What condition must be met for a parent to take from a child’s wealth?

  • It must not harm the child or take what the child needs. (correct answer)
  • The parent may take anything, even if the child is harmed.
  • The parent may take only if the child is an adult.
  • The parent may take only as payment for custody.

Why

A mother who has custody is entrusted with the children’s maintenance money and may not take from it as payment for looking after them. However, parents may take from their children’s wealth for genuine needs, provided that doing so does not harm the children or take what the children need. In the case described, taking for medical treatment is allowed only after ensuring the children have enough.

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3. What must someone do if they took more than needed from a parent’s money without permission?

  • Repent to Allah and return the money if there are others with a right to it. (correct answer)
  • Keep it because children may always take whatever they want.
  • Do nothing if the parent was wealthy.
  • Give any amount to charity and ignore the owner’s rights.

Why

Taking only necessary maintenance when there is no other way is different from taking extra money for more comfort or spending. Taking more than needed is unlawful and requires repentance. If the parent is alive, the money should be returned to the parent; if the parent has died, it should be returned to the heirs who have a right to it. If the taker is the only heir, then there is no other heir whose share must be restored, but repentance and du‘a for the parent remain important.

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4. If a mother’s own income is not enough for her maintenance, who must help support her?

  • Her children who have surplus wealth, whether male or female. (correct answer)
  • Only her sons, even if her daughters have surplus wealth.
  • Only daughters who are unmarried.
  • No one, if she has any rental income at all.

Why

A poor parent’s own wealth or income should be used first for their maintenance. If that is not enough, then children who are independent of means and have surplus wealth must contribute, whether they are male or female. A married daughter who receives sufficient maintenance from her husband and has surplus wealth must spend on her poor mother, even if that surplus comes from rental income.

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5. If a divorced mother has custody and already has suitable accommodation for the child, must the father pay for separate child accommodation according to the middle view cited?

  • No, because there is no need for separate accommodation. (correct answer)
  • Yes, he must always pay separate rent for the child.
  • No, because divorce cancels child maintenance.
  • Yes, but only if the mother was nashiz.

Why

A father must spend on his child’s maintenance, and this is not cancelled by the mother’s nushooz or divorce. Maintenance includes food, clothing, education, and other needed expenses, according to the father’s means. Scholars differed on whether child maintenance includes accommodation when the child is in the mother’s custody. The middle view cited says the father must pay for accommodation if the mother has none, but if she has suitable housing where the child can live with her, he is not required to pay for separate accommodation.

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6. When may a parent give one child financial help that is not given equally to the others?

  • When there is a valid need, such as debt, illness, disability, study, or a large family. (correct answer)
  • Whenever the parent prefers that child emotionally.
  • Whenever the child asks first.
  • Never, even for extraordinary need.

Why

Parents must treat children fairly and should not single out some children for gifts out of favouritism. But if one child has a genuine need, fairness may mean giving each child what they need, not identical amounts. Examples include sickness, disability, a large family, being a student, debt, compensation, mahr, or necessary maintenance. The key distinction is need, not mere preference.

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A note on these answers

These questions are for learning and self-testing. Explanations are drawn from the sources linked on each question and are not a fatwa. For a ruling on your own circumstances, please consult a qualified scholar.

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