Fatwa ID: 07198

 

 

Answered by: Maulana Ubaidur Rahman

 

 

Question:

 

First of all, I thank Allah (swt) for His mercy and nourishment upon us. I truly believe He is the all knowing and the controller of everything.

 

 

I’m a teenager currently overwhelmed by financial difficulties. I graduated from high school in 2023 but scored a lower grade than what is required to qualify for free university education. As a refugee, there is an organization that pays for university education, but they have a grade system, and if you don’t meet that system, you are disqualified. I accept my grade and decided to relocate from the place I used to live with my mom to a city to find some sort of job to help my mom, who has struggled and sacrificed her entire life for me and my brother.

 

 

I am the kind of a person who truly loves his mom more than anything else. When I look back and remember the struggles and challenges she has faced to raise us, it overwhelms me. Nevertheless, I left my mom in another place. She is too old to work but tries her best to provide for herself. She owns a small clothes shop, and although she can’t continue to work effectively, she remains optimistic, alhamdulillah.

 

Now, I find myself in another country without a job to help her. My question is, should I ignore all these feelings and the fact that my mom is in another country and can’t continue to work? Should I strive harder to get a job or find a small job that can pay for my university fees here where I am now? Or should I go back to her, help with the shop, and support her in any way I can? My elder brother is studying at university, and alhamdulillah, some relatives have helped him, with two years remaining for him to graduate.

 

Please provide me with advice. Should I go back to my mom and help her instead of staying in another country, constantly worrying and feeling weak? I want to be as obedient as possible to her, so would it be better to return and assist her?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

 

Answer:

 

I pray Allah has kept you well and that he keeps your family united and strong in every situation.

 

Allah makes mention in the Quraan,

 

وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ حَمَلَتْهُ أُمُّهُ وَهْنًا عَلَىٰ وَهْنٍ وَفِصَالُهُ فِي عَامَيْنِ أَنِ اشْكُرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيْكَ إِلَيَّ الْمَصِير¹ُ

 

Translation: We have enjoined man concerning his parents: His mother carried him through weakness upon weakness, and his weaning takes two years. Give thanks to Me and to your parents. To Me is the return.

 

 

The Prophet PBUH states in a hadeeth:

 

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَمْرٍو الشَّيْبَانِيَّ يَقُولُ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنَا صَاحِبُ هَذِهِ الدَّارِ، وَأَوْمَأَ بِيَدِهِ إِلَى دَارِ عَبْدِ اللهِ قَالَ‏:‏ سَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ الصَّلاَةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا، قُلْتُ‏:‏ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ ثُمَّ بِرُّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ، قُلْتُ‏:‏ ثُمَّ أَيٌّ‏؟‏ قَالَ‏:‏ ثُمَّ الْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ قَالَ‏:‏ حَدَّثَنِي بِهِنَّ، وَلَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزَادَنِي‏².‏

 

Translation: Abu ‘Amr ash-Shaybani said, “The owner of this house (and he pointed at the house of ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud) said, “I asked the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which action Allah loves best. He replied, ‘Prayer at its proper time.’ ‘Then what?’ I asked. He said, ‘Then kindness to parents.” I asked, ‘Then what?’ He replied, ‘Then jihad in the Way of Allah.'” He added, “He told me about these things. If I had asked him to tell me more, he would have told me more.”

 

 

If the child is in a financially independent state where they are able to provide for their parents then then must provide for their parents so that their needs are met. If however, they are not in a strong state that they provide for their parents while still being in a needy state themselves, then they should aid them still whilst being mindful of their own needs and requisites.

 

 

شُرُوعٌ فِي نَفَقَةِ الْأُصُولِ بَعْدَ الْفَرَاغِ مِنْ نَفَقَةِ الْفُرُوعِ (قَوْلُهُ وَلَوْ صَغِيرًا) ؛ لِأَنَّهُ كَالْكَبِيرِ فِيمَا يَجِبُ فِي مَالِهِ مِنْ حَقِّ عَبْدٍ، فَيُطَالِبُ بِهِ وَلِيَّهُ كَمَا يُطَالِبُ بِنَفَقَةِ زَوْجَتِهِ (قَوْلُهُ يَسَارُ الْفِطْرَةِ عَلَى الْأَرْجَحِ) أَيْ بِأَنْ يَمْلِكَ مَا يَحْرُمُ بِهِ أَخْذُ الزَّكَاةِ وَهُوَ نِصَابٌ وَلَوْ غَيْرَ تَامٍّ فَاضِلٍ عَنْ حَوَائِجِهِ الْأَصْلِيَّةِ، وَهَذَا قَوْلُ أَبِي يُوسُفَ. وَفِي الْهِدَايَةِ: وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى، وَصَحَّحَهُ فِي الذَّخِيرَةِ، وَمَشَى عَلَيْهِ فِي مَتْنِ الْمُلْتَقَى، وَفِي الْبَحْرِ أَنَّهُ الْأَرْجَحُ، وَفِي الْخُلَاصَةِ أَنَّهُ نِصَابُ الزَّكَاةِ وَبِهِ يُفْتَى وَاخْتَارَهُ الْوَلْوَالِجِيُّ (قَوْلُهُ وَرَجَّحَ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ) عِبَارَتَهُ، وَعَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ أَنَّهُ قَدَّرَهُ بِمَا يَفْضُلُ عَنْ نَفَقَةِ نَفْسِهِ وَعِيَالِهِ شَهْرًا إنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْغَلَّةِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْحِرَفِ فَهُوَ مُقَدَّرٌ بِمَا يَفْضُلُ عَنْ نَفَقَتِهِ وَنَفَقَةِ عِيَالِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمُعْتَبَرَ فِي حُقُوقِ الْعِبَادِ الْقُدْرَةُ دُونَ النِّصَابِ، وَهُوَ مُسْتَغْنٍ عَمَّا زَادَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ فَيَصْرِفُهَا إلَى أَقَارِبِهِ، وَهَذَا أَوْجَهُ. وَقَالُوا: الْفَتْوَى عَلَى الْأَوَّلِ. اهـ وَاَلَّذِي فِي الْفَتْحِ أَنَّ هَذَا تَوْفِيقٌ بَيْنَ رِوَايَتَيْنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ: الْأُولَى – اعْتِبَارُ فَاضِلِ نَفَقَةِ شَهْرٍ. وَالثَّانِيَةُ – فَاضِلُ كَسْبِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، حَتَّى لَوْ كَانَ كَسْبُهُ دِرْهَمًا وَيَكْفِيهِ أَرْبَعَةُ دَوَانِقَ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ دَانَقَانِ لِلْقَرِيبِ. قَالَ: وَمَالَ السَّرَخْسِيُّ إلَى قَوْلِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي الْكَسْبِ. وَقَالَ صَاحِبُ التُّحْفَةِ: قَوْلُ مُحَمَّدٍ أَرْفَقُ. ثُمَّ قَالَ فِي الْفَتْحِ بَعْدَ كَلَامٍ: وَإِنْ كَانَ كَسُوبًا يُعْتَبَرُ قَوْلُ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَهَذَا يَجِبُ أَنْ يُعَوَّلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْفَتْوَى. اهـ وَبِهِ عُلِمَ أَنَّ الزَّيْلَعِيَّ وَصَاحِبَ التُّحْفَةِ رَجَّحَا قَوْلَ مُحَمَّدٍ مُطْلَقًا وَالسَّرَخْسِيُّ وَالْكَمَالُ رَجَّحَا قَوْلَهُ لَوْ كَسُوبًا، وَهِيَ الرِّوَايَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ عَنْهُ. وَفِي الْبَدَائِعِ أَيْضًا أَنَّهُ الْأَرْفَقُ. قُلْت: وَالْحَاصِلُ أَنَّ فِي حَدِّ الْيَسَارِ أَرْبَعَةُ أَقْوَالٍ مَرْوِيَّةٌ كَمَا قَالَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ، وَأَنَّ الثَّالِثَ تَحْتَهُ قَوْلَانِ، وَعَلَى تَوْفِيقِ الْفَتْحِ هِيَ ثَلَاثَةٌ فَقَطْ. وَبِهِ عُلِمَ أَنَّ الثَّالِثَ لَيْسَ تَقْيِيدًا لِمَا ذَكَرَهُ الْمُصَنِّفُ، بَلْ هُوَ قَوْلٌ آخَرُ فَافْهَمْ.

 

 

وَقَالَ فِي الْبَحْرِ وَلَمْ أَرَ مَنْ أَفْتَى بِهِ أَيْ بِالثَّالِثِ الْمَذْكُورِ، فَالِاعْتِمَادُ عَلَى الْأَوَّلِينَ وَالْأَرْجَحُ الثَّانِي. اهـ قُلْت: مَرَّ فِي رَسْمِ الْمُفْتِي أَنَّ الْأَصَحَّ التَّرْجِيحُ بِقُوَّةِ الدَّلِيلِ، فَحَيْثُ كَانَ الثَّالِثُ هُوَ الْأَوْجَهُ أَيْ الْأَظْهَرُ مِنْ حَيْثُ التَّوْجِيهُ وَالِاسْتِدْلَالُ كَانَ هُوَ الْأَرْجَحُ، وَإِنْ صَرَّحَ بِالْفَتْوَى عَلَى غَيْرِهِ، وَلِذَا قَالَ الزَّيْلَعِيُّ: قَالُوا الْفَتْوَى عَلَى الْأَوَّلِ بِصِيغَةِ قَالُوا لِلتَّبَرِّي، وَكَذَا قَالَ فِي الْفَتْحِ، وَهَذَا يَجِبُ أَنْ يُعَوَّلَ عَلَيْهِ فِي الْفَتْوَى أَيْ عَلَى الثَّالِثِ.

 

 

مَطْلَبٌ، صَاحِبُ الْفَتْحِ ابْنُ الْهُمَامِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَالْكَمَالُ صَاحِبُ الْفَتْحِ مِنْ أَهْلِ التَّرْجِيحِ بَلْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الِاجْتِهَادِ كَمَا قَدَّمْنَاهُ فِي نِكَاحِ الرَّقِيقِ، وَقَدْ نَقَلَ كَلَامَهُ تِلْمِيذُهُ الْعَلَّامَةُ قَاسِمٌ، وَكَذَا صَاحِبُ النَّهْرِ وَالْمَقْدِسِيُّ وَالشُّرُنْبُلالي وَأَقَرُّوهُ عَلَيْهِ. وَيَكْفِي أَيْضًا مَيْلُ الْإِمَامِ السَّرَخْسِيِّ إلَيْهِ، وَقَوْلُ التُّحْفَةِ وَالْبَدَائِعِ إنَّهُ الْأَرْفَقُ، فَحَيْثُ كَانَ هُوَ الْأَوْجَهُ وَالْأَرْفَقُ، وَاعْتَمَدَهُ الْمُتَأَخِّرُونَ وَجَبَ التَّعْوِيلُ عَلَيْهِ، فَكَانَ هُوَ الْمُعْتَمَدُ. ثُمَّ اعْلَمْ أَنَّ مَا ذَكَرَهُ الْمُصَنِّفُ مِنْ اشْتِرَاطِ الْيَسَارِ فِي نَفَقَةِ الْأُصُولِ صُرِّحَ بِهِ فِي كَافِي الْحَاكِمِ وَالدُّرَرِ وَالنُّقَايَةِ وَالْفَتْحِ وَالْمُلْتَقَى وَالْمَوَاهِبِ وَالْبَحْرِ وَالنَّهْرِ. وَفِي كَافِي الْحَاكِمِ أَيْضًا: وَلَا يُجْبَرُ الْمُعْسِرُ عَلَى نَفَقَةِ أَحَدٍ إلَّا عَلَى نَفَقَةِ الزَّوْجَةِ وَالْوَلَدِ. اهـ وَمِثْلُهُ فِي الِاخْتِيَارِ، وَنَحْوُهُ فِي الْهِدَايَةِ.

 

وَفِي الْخَانِيَّةِ: لَا يَجِبُ عَلَى الِابْنِ الْفَقِيرِ نَفَقَةُ وَالِدِهِ الْفَقِيرِ حُكْمًا إلَّا إنْ كَانَ وَالِدُهُ زَمِنًا لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى الْعَمَلِ وَلِلِابْنِ عِيَالٌ فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَضُمَّهُ إلَى عِيَالِهِ وَيُنْفِقَ عَلَى الْكُلِّ³.

 

 

Both Son and Daughter equally have a responsibility of providing for their parents when they are in an able position to do so. They need to ensure that their parents are in a good position and are safe in every aspect, financially as well as in their home and general wellbeing.

 

 

Working elsewhere as in another country, if that ensures stable income for yourself, then you should continue the work there, and send across the money so that it may help your mother in the position that she is in. so that way, the money is coming in as a stable source for both you and your Mother.

 

 

It would also be a good idea if you are able to return to her to ensure that the money is being used well and to aid her whenever you are able to take time off of work, so you can ensure the stable source of income and maintain relations with her and her well being. Always remember to keep her in your prayers and for every difficulty to be alleviated from her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only And Allah knows best.

Answered by Maulana Ubaidur Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Tosir Miah.

Darul Ifta Birmingham.