Son's responsibility towards his father's financial obligations

5-4-2016 | IslamWeb

Question:

Does a child have to finish their parents life obligations? For example, if a father needed to build a house for his family to live in but he no longer can do so because he used the money for other things in his lifetime, can he then force his child to finish that as an obligation even though it will bring much stress and hardship for the child because he has other personal obligations?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The son is not obliged to finish the construction of this house or any similar obligation; however, he is obliged to financially support his father, including providing accommodation for him if he is poor and in need. Ibn Qudaamah wrote, "The scholars unanimously agreed that the children are obliged to provide for their poor parents who have no source of income or wealth." [Al-Mughni]

He also underlined, "The child who is obliged to provide for his poor parents is the one who has surplus income or wealth in excess of his essential needs; otherwise, he is not obliged to support them financially."

We have also underlined the conditions under which disobeying one’s parents is permitted and that the enjoined obedience towards one's parents is only obligatory in matters that serve their best interests and do not cause harm to the child in fatwa 131695.

The son should help his parents financially, even if they are not in need; this is an aspect of dutifulness towards one's parents and yields great rewards.

Allaah knows best.