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:

Assalam Alikum:
I have a family dilemma. I am married and live far from my parents. I want to move to the same state as they are in because my father has liver cancer. I realize that it is the duty of the older male to take care of the parents, however, my brother is moving out of the country. My husband does not wish to move to the same state for various reasons.
I can`t help but feel that I would be wrong if I did not live next to them. I feel they need me more than ever. I wish my husband would agree. What should I do?
Thank you,

(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:

Serve one’s parents

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

May Allah Subhanah reward you generously for your intention to serve your parents in their old age, and it would indeed be a great honor and a blessing if you could be near them. But a woman’s biggest right in Islam is to her husband. You could try convincing your husband politely and with extreme wisdom and patience to move to a place close to your parents; but if he, for any reason does not wish to do so, you must not force him to move and it would be best to obey your husband. You could alternatively take his permission and go visit your parents for a while and serve them.

In the current state, the main responsibility of serving the parents would be on your brothers.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan