What is the ruling on hiring a servant to care for the father if the children are busy?
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Question:
May Allah reward you. Among the questions we received, Shaykh Salih says: They have a father who has been ill for years and is in a coma, and they have brought a servant to sit with him. He says the sons and daughters are busy with their work and their children. What does the Shaykh advise them to do in this matter?
Answer:
Yes, we advise them to be dutiful to their father, because this is obligatory upon them, especially in old age,[Al-Isra 17:23], so they repay the Salaf who advanced to them.
[Al-Isra 17:24] So he remembers that they raised him when he was small, unable to do anything for himself, a small child in the cradle. Who raised him? Who clothed him? Who fed him?
None but Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), then the parents. And he is patient with them when one of them, or both of them, reaches old age. He remembers that he was a small child and they raised him, so he serves his parents and is patient with that. If he appoints a servant to act on his behalf, while he remains the one observing over him, this is permissible. However, for him to be the one who seizes the reward and takes charge of this, there is no doubt that this is more beneficial for him and better for him. As for neglecting his father or placing him in a home for the elderly, this is undutifulness to parents, and I seek refuge in Allah. This is undutifulness to parents, the one who places his parents in a home for the elderly is undutiful to them and denies their kindness, and he will be held accountable for it on the Day of Resurrection. Yes. May Allah reward you with good.
May Allah reward you. Among the questions we received, Shaykh Salih says: They have a father who has been ill for years and is in a coma, and they have brought a servant to sit with him. He says the sons and daughters are busy with their work and their children. What does the Shaykh advise them to do in this matter?
Answer:
Yes, we advise them to be dutiful to their father, because this is obligatory upon them, especially in old age,
Whether one or both of them reach old age [while] with you, say not to them [so much as], "uff," and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.
إِمَّا يَبْلُغَنَّ عِندَكَ الْكِبَرَ أَحَدُهُمَا أَوْ كِلَاهُمَا فَلَا تَقُل لَّهُمَا أُفٍّ وَلَا تَنْهَرْهُمَا وَقُل لَّهُمَا قَوْلًا كَرِيمًاand say, "My Lord, have mercy upon them as they brought me up [when I was] small."
وَقُل رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًاNone but Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He), then the parents. And he is patient with them when one of them, or both of them, reaches old age. He remembers that he was a small child and they raised him, so he serves his parents and is patient with that. If he appoints a servant to act on his behalf, while he remains the one observing over him, this is permissible. However, for him to be the one who seizes the reward and takes charge of this, there is no doubt that this is more beneficial for him and better for him. As for neglecting his father or placing him in a home for the elderly, this is undutifulness to parents, and I seek refuge in Allah. This is undutifulness to parents, the one who places his parents in a home for the elderly is undutiful to them and denies their kindness, and he will be held accountable for it on the Day of Resurrection. Yes. May Allah reward you with good.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما حكم استقدام الخادم لخدمة الأب إذا كان الأولاد مشغولين؟ الشيخ صالح بن فوزان الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.