Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:

Man not providing

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother in Islam,

 

Salaam alaikum, i need guidance and help in the light of Islam.My question is...


I have been working since past 10 years and contributing towards house expences....working has not been out of choice since needed to make own house back in India and also support husband.

Since past 3 years now my husband is hardly contributing since he went to do his own business suffered losses and huge loans but somehow has managed house rent with my contribution..all other expences right from grocery to medical to school fees loans im taking care..


My question is it my responsibility? as im tring to convince my husband to take up a job as the house burden i cannot take anymore


Secondly my husband has asked me time till 5 months to continue to support him financially (our expences are more than the salary i am earning) Am i eligible for zakat? since my husband is Syed but i am pathan


Last question my bro-in-law is earning well and living independently his wife is not here and my husband said that During the month of Ramadan his bro will do IFTAR with us...(Al though it is Noble to Feed in Ramdaan...IT will be an Additional burden for me.... what should i do will i commit a sin if i ask my bro in law to contribute during ramdan?


Your support and guidance will help me be a good muslima and inshallah help me in taking some major decisions.. for myself and my family. 

 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Man not providing

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Your Question: …My question is it my responsibility?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 34:

34   Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means.  Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard (their chastity, their husband’s honor, property, etc.)

 

The complete financial responsibility of the upkeep and maintenance of the house and the family is the responsibility and duty of the men in Islam.  It is the responsibility and duty of the men in Islam to make sure that food is provided to the womenfolk and family in their care, that clothing is provided for them, that a place is provided for them to reside in, etc.

 

If the husband is temporarily jobless and unable to provide for the family, and the wife, of her own free will and without any coercion wishes to contribute towards the providing of the family, she is well within her rights to do….and it would be a source of earning ‘ajr’ or rewards for her. 

 

We reiterate again that the financial responsibility of the upkeep of the family is the duty of the men and not the women in Islam.  Even if a woman in Islam is a millionaire and happens to marry one who is a pauper, the financial responsibility for the upkeep of the family remains upon the shoulders of the man.  The woman is well within her rights to spend from her own wealth on the family, if indeed she wishes to do so; but if she chooses not to do so, neither is there any sin upon her, nor should she be forced or coerced to do so.

 

Your Question: ….Secondly my husband has asked me time till 5 months to continue to support him financially (our expences are more than the salary i am earning) Am i eligible for zakat? since my husband is Syed but i am pathan

The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade any member of his family; ie. the ‘Banu Hashim’ from accepting any ‘zakah’.  Thus it is not the ‘syeds’ who are forbidden from accepting ‘zakah’, but rather the ‘Banu Hashim’ or the family or descendants of the Prophet (saws) who are specifically forbidden from accepting Zakah.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verse 60:

60      Alms are for the poor, and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds), for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to the Truth), for those in bondage and in debt, in the Cause of Allah, and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah and Allah is full of Knowledge and Wisdom.

 

Any who falls in the above listed eight categories are eligible to receive Zakah funds:

  1. To the poor
  2. To the needy
  3. To those who are employed to administer the zakah funds
  4. To those whose hearts have recently been reconciled to the Truth of Islam (new-muslims)
  5. For those in bondage
  6. For those in debt
  7. In the Cause of Allah
  8. To the way-farer or traveler

 

If your husband if temporarily jobless and facing financial hardship, and your earnings are not enough to provide for even the basic needs of the family, you and your family would fall under the above listed category of ‘needy’…..and the ‘needy’ are eligible to receive ‘zakah’ dues from the believers.

 

Your Question: ….what should i do will i commit a sin if i ask my bro in law to contribute during ramdan?
If you and your family do not have enough to fulfill even your basic needs, there would be absolutely no sin upon you if you or your husband were to ask your brother-in-law or any amongst your other family members who are blessed with abundance to contribute towards your needs.  And if Allah Subhanah has indeed provided them with abundance, they should strive their utmost to help you during your trying times.

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "Charity for the poor is rewarded as one good deed; but in the case of a (needy) relative it is considered as two: [one reward for helping] blood ties, and [the other reward for] the charity [itself]."

Related by Ahmad, an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan

 


Related Answers:

Recommended answers for you: