Guidance for one who gives much in charity but falls short in providing for his family
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Question:
A message from al-Qasim, signed at the end with the initials (M. M), states in his letter: My father is married to four women and has fourteen sons and twenty daughters, making a total of thirty-four children. The problem, as he says, is that my father does not provide for us at all, including my grandmother (his mother). He continues describing his father, saying: He is extremely wealthy—as he puts it—and owns many properties. He built six mosques at a cost of approximately four million riyals. He pays zakah, prays, gives much in charity, and helps the needy, but with us it is the opposite of how he is with others. When I discussed this with him, he justified his behavior by saying: When I die, you will forget me. He continues in this vein in his letter and asks for your guidance for him, his brothers, and his father.
Answer:
What you mentioned about your father’s good deeds brings joy to every Muslim. May Allah reward him with good and accept his good deeds in building mosques, giving charity to the poor, and helping those in need. As for what concerns his provision for his wives and children, this is a mistake. He must provide for his wives; indeed, it is obligatory for him to provide for his wives. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) made it obligatory upon him. He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: [al-Baqarah: 233], meaning: the mothers, meaning: the wives. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in the authentic hadith, when mentioning the wives: Sunan Abi Dawud 1905Sahih (Al-Albani).
It is obligatory for him to provide for them in a good manner. This is obligatory upon him and a right due to them. Likewise, if you are minors and poor, it is obligatory for him to provide for you, for both the males and the females. The father must provide for his children if they are in need.
As for whoever among you is wealthy and independent of his father, having means that suffice for his condition, his father is not obligated to provide for him. He only provides for the one in need. If some of the daughters have married and are independent through their husbands, or if they have money or a job, and likewise if the sons have jobs or other earnings that make them independent, he is not obligated to provide for them.
As for what concerns inheritance, that is what Allah has given you. It is not what he gave you. If he dies and you are alive, you have the right to inheritance, whether you are wealthy or poor. But during his lifetime, he must fear Allah and watch over his relationship with Allah, the Exalted, by providing for those among you who are entitled to provision due to their poverty and need, and for the wives as well, absolutely. And whoever among you is wealthy, male or female, he is not obligated to provide for them, because they are independent through the wealth Allah has given them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A message from al-Qasim, signed at the end with the initials (M. M), states in his letter: My father is married to four women and has fourteen sons and twenty daughters, making a total of thirty-four children. The problem, as he says, is that my father does not provide for us at all, including my grandmother (his mother). He continues describing his father, saying: He is extremely wealthy—as he puts it—and owns many properties. He built six mosques at a cost of approximately four million riyals. He pays zakah, prays, gives much in charity, and helps the needy, but with us it is the opposite of how he is with others. When I discussed this with him, he justified his behavior by saying: When I die, you will forget me. He continues in this vein in his letter and asks for your guidance for him, his brothers, and his father.
Answer:
What you mentioned about your father’s good deeds brings joy to every Muslim. May Allah reward him with good and accept his good deeds in building mosques, giving charity to the poor, and helping those in need. As for what concerns his provision for his wives and children, this is a mistake. He must provide for his wives; indeed, it is obligatory for him to provide for his wives. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) made it obligatory upon him. He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable.
وَعَلَى الْمَوْلُودِ لَهُ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِYou are responsible for providing them with food and clothing in a fitting manner
ولهن عليكم رزقهن، وكسوتهن بالمعروفIt is obligatory for him to provide for them in a good manner. This is obligatory upon him and a right due to them. Likewise, if you are minors and poor, it is obligatory for him to provide for you, for both the males and the females. The father must provide for his children if they are in need.
As for whoever among you is wealthy and independent of his father, having means that suffice for his condition, his father is not obligated to provide for him. He only provides for the one in need. If some of the daughters have married and are independent through their husbands, or if they have money or a job, and likewise if the sons have jobs or other earnings that make them independent, he is not obligated to provide for them.
As for what concerns inheritance, that is what Allah has given you. It is not what he gave you. If he dies and you are alive, you have the right to inheritance, whether you are wealthy or poor. But during his lifetime, he must fear Allah and watch over his relationship with Allah, the Exalted, by providing for those among you who are entitled to provision due to their poverty and need, and for the wives as well, absolutely. And whoever among you is wealthy, male or female, he is not obligated to provide for them, because they are independent through the wealth Allah has given them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.