Allah the Exalted said: “Adorned to men is the love of desires, of women and sons” [the verse]
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The questioner : From his questions, he says: Allah Blessed and Exalted said: [Ali 'Imran 3:14] [the verse], and in another verse He said: [Al-Kahf 18:46] Is the meaning of “sons” in the first verse and “sons” in the second verse children in general, or males specifically?
The Shaykh : The meaning of “sons” in these two verses, and in other places as well, in the speech of the Arabs is males only, because it is said “banun” (sons) and it is said “banat” (daughters). Daughters are one type of human being, and sons are the other type of human being; they are two types of human beings. Allah the Exalted said:[At-Tur 52:39] It is known that a person’s attachment to sons is greater than his attachment to daughters, and yet it is obligatory for a person to be just between his children, males and females, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 2587
On this occasion, I would like to clarify that it is obligatory for a person to be just among his children in gifts, giving the male the share of two females. So if he gives the male one hundred riyals, for example, he should give the female fifty riyals. This applies to gifts that are purely voluntary.
As for expenses, justice in them is to spend on each of them what he needs, and this varies according to the child’s situation. If you have children who have reached the age of marriage and need it, it is obligatory for you to marry them off if you have the ability to do so, and you should not give those who have not reached the age of marriage the same as you gave these in marriage, because this falls under the category of meeting a need.
Likewise, if one of the sons falls ill and needs treatment, and you spend on his treatment, it is not obligatory for you to give the others the same as you spent on this sick person, because this falls under the category of meeting a need.
The important point is that it is obligatory for a person to be just among his children in voluntary gifts, but as for what is intended to meet a need, each one of them is given what he needs. Yes.
Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire - of women and sons
زيّن للناس حب الشهوات من النساء والبنينWealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life
المال والبنون زينة الحياة الدنياThe Shaykh : The meaning of “sons” in these two verses, and in other places as well, in the speech of the Arabs is males only, because it is said “banun” (sons) and it is said “banat” (daughters). Daughters are one type of human being, and sons are the other type of human being; they are two types of human beings. Allah the Exalted said:
Or has He daughters while you have sons?
أم له البنات ولكم البنونBe afraid of Allah, and be just to your children.
اتقوا الله واعدلوا بين أولادكمOn this occasion, I would like to clarify that it is obligatory for a person to be just among his children in gifts, giving the male the share of two females. So if he gives the male one hundred riyals, for example, he should give the female fifty riyals. This applies to gifts that are purely voluntary.
As for expenses, justice in them is to spend on each of them what he needs, and this varies according to the child’s situation. If you have children who have reached the age of marriage and need it, it is obligatory for you to marry them off if you have the ability to do so, and you should not give those who have not reached the age of marriage the same as you gave these in marriage, because this falls under the category of meeting a need.
Likewise, if one of the sons falls ill and needs treatment, and you spend on his treatment, it is not obligatory for you to give the others the same as you spent on this sick person, because this falls under the category of meeting a need.
The important point is that it is obligatory for a person to be just among his children in voluntary gifts, but as for what is intended to meet a need, each one of them is given what he needs. Yes.