Ethica Institute of Islamic Finance™

What are the rights of parents with regards to receiving support from their children?

With money that is above basic needs, both men and women are equally obligated to support those of their Muslim or non-Muslim parents (grandparents, great grandparents, and their direct ascendants) stricken by poverty (obligatory only when there is poverty), even if the parents are capable of earning.

Money that is “above basic needs” is measured as the typical maintenance for oneself (and one’s wife, if applicable) necessary for one day before spending it on one’s parents; the one obligated to pay zakat al-fitr is obligated to support his or her parents. In order to satisfy this obligation, which includes sons paying for their father’s marriage (including marriage payment and subsequent maintenance of the father’s wife if the father is poor) and sons and daughters repaying any debts the parent incurs in order to cover living expenses, one is even compelled to sell property in excess of one’s needs.

If more than one child is financially qualified to support the needy parent, the obligation of providing support is shared equally among the children, regardless of the child’s gender or financial status (provided the zakat al-fitr minimum is reached); women are only obligated to provide support if they earn or have sufficient money of their own.

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