Fatwa ID: 06052

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Question:

What is the status of child benefits in Islam with regards to parents, children (how much they get) etc.?

Does it belong to the children and the parents/guardians to spend for the benefit of the child?

Is it granted to the parents to assist in raising the child?

The clarification is sought because a woman is complaining about her husband not spending on the children as he ought to. 

He rather is easy spends on himself and friends and is tight when spending on the family. 

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

Answer:

When filing for child benefits, parents should be honest and refrain from utilizing the money for personal gain, as this is abusing the system and the money was given to assist with child-rearing. As a result, it’s a good idea to set away these funds for child-related expenses. Inshaa Allah, it is permitted in some of the monies to be utilized for the parent’s or guardian’s essential needs (such as food and rent supplies). The child benefit recipient’s father or mother should not spend the money on personal expenses such as personal luxury or a vacation.

It’s unethical for a father to simply go to the mosque for his prayers/Maktab and then return home to use the government-provided child monies for his own advantage and luxury.

Allah SWT mentions in the Qur’an:

وَآتُواْ الْيَتَامَى أَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلاَ تَتَبَدَّلُواْ الْخَبِيثَ بِالطَّيِّبِ وَلاَ تَأْكُلُواْ أَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَى أَمْوَالِكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ حُوبًا كَبِيرًا

“If someone (among the guardians) is affluent, they should not take from the children’s fortune; nevertheless, if they are poor, they should be allowed to have what is just and appropriate for them.” [Surah Nisaa’ verse 5]

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham