Serving the wife of the husband's parents
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa number ( 4985 )
Q: I have a mother in Syria who is seventy years old, and I am her only son. I left my country three years ago. Given the difficult circumstances our country is going through, particularly the governorate of Hama , which has suffered a great calamity that you have undoubtedly heard about recently, I prefer not to travel there. However, the problem is that my mother lives alone, and last month she was struck by an illness that has left her unable to move. My mother has expressed her desire for me to send my wife, who resides with me here, to Syria to help my mother with her painful illness. But my wife does not want to travel, due to the difficult circumstances on one hand, and because she has four children whom she cannot manage alone, one of whom is very young and requires constant care, especially since he is suffering from an illness that requires even more care. She also does not prefer to travel alone. I had wanted to send my wife with the teachers traveling to Syria at the end of this school year, but my wife is not willing to do so. The question is: Is there anything in Islamic law that obligates a wife to help her husband's mother? And if my wife does not travel, am I considered undutiful to my mother, who may be angry with me because my wife did not travel to her?
A: First: There is nothing in the Shari'ah that indicates it is obligatory for a wife to help her husband's mother, except within the limits of what is customary and within her capacity, as a kindness to her husband and out of dutifulness to what is required of him in being dutiful to his parents. Second: I f your wife does not travel to your mother out of fear of the events and dangers that may befall her in your mother's country due to the harsh circumstances there at present, she is excused, and there is no sin on you for her not traveling, even if your mother is upset. You must be dutiful to your mother without sending your wife to her, by whatever means are feasible for you: either by bringing her to you to live with you, or by sending money to hire someone to serve her, or by other means within your capacity. And Allah is the Helper. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I have a mother in Syria who is seventy years old, and I am her only son. I left my country three years ago. Given the difficult circumstances our country is going through, particularly the governorate of Hama , which has suffered a great calamity that you have undoubtedly heard about recently, I prefer not to travel there. However, the problem is that my mother lives alone, and last month she was struck by an illness that has left her unable to move. My mother has expressed her desire for me to send my wife, who resides with me here, to Syria to help my mother with her painful illness. But my wife does not want to travel, due to the difficult circumstances on one hand, and because she has four children whom she cannot manage alone, one of whom is very young and requires constant care, especially since he is suffering from an illness that requires even more care. She also does not prefer to travel alone. I had wanted to send my wife with the teachers traveling to Syria at the end of this school year, but my wife is not willing to do so. The question is: Is there anything in Islamic law that obligates a wife to help her husband's mother? And if my wife does not travel, am I considered undutiful to my mother, who may be angry with me because my wife did not travel to her?
A: First: There is nothing in the Shari'ah that indicates it is obligatory for a wife to help her husband's mother, except within the limits of what is customary and within her capacity, as a kindness to her husband and out of dutifulness to what is required of him in being dutiful to his parents. Second: I f your wife does not travel to your mother out of fear of the events and dangers that may befall her in your mother's country due to the harsh circumstances there at present, she is excused, and there is no sin on you for her not traveling, even if your mother is upset. You must be dutiful to your mother without sending your wife to her, by whatever means are feasible for you: either by bringing her to you to live with you, or by sending money to hire someone to serve her, or by other means within your capacity. And Allah is the Helper. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.