[Q 436] Father’s Right Over Son’s Wealth, Does Father Own Son’s Earnings? Islamic Ruling on Father Using Son’s Wealth

QUESTION:

Salaam, is it true that Islamically all the sons earnings/ wealth is his father’s? Can the father demand this money from the son?

ANSWER:

Shar‘an (according to Islamic law) the wealth of the father and the son is separate. Whatever the son earns, he himself is the owner of it. It is not the case that the son’s wealth is considered the property of the father and that the father may demand it. However, the children must take care of the needs of their parents, and if the father is in need, then his nafaqah (financial support) becomes Wajib (compulsory) upon his children (whether son or daughter). In case of negligence, they will be sinful. If the children do not provide nafaqah and the father is in need, then the father may take from the wealth of the children, even without their permission, according to necessity. In this sense, indeed, the son’s wealth is the father’s wealth, meaning the father has the right to take in such a manner.

It is mentioned in the Hadith Mubarak:

عن عائشة رضي الله عنها، قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إن أولادكم هبة الله لكم، يهب لمن يشاء إناثا، ويهب لمن يشاء الذكور، فهم وأموالهم لكم إذا احتجتم إليها» هذا حديث صحيح على شرط الشيخين،
(المستدرک للحاکم ،جلد 02 ،صفحہ 312 ،رقم الحدیث:3123)

‘Allāmah Alā’uddīn Haskafī رحمه الله تعالى states:

وفي المبتغى: للفقير أن یسرق من ابنه الموسر ما يكفيه إن أبى ولا قاضي ثمة، وإلا أثم.
(Al-Durr al-Mukhtār, Bāb al-Nafaqah, p. 264)

Imām Ahl-e-Sunnat Imām Ahmad Raza رحمه الله تعالى states:
For the children not to fulfill the rights of the father, to deal with him in rebellion and opposition, brings upon themselves severe punishment and the wrath of Allah عزوجل. Allah عزوجل has made Fard (obligatory) in the Qur’an al-‘Azīm that you must do ihsān (kindness) towards parents; do not even say ‘uff’ to them, speak to them with words of honor and respect, spread before them the wings of humility out of love for them… Such is the command of felicity. However, with all this, in the ruling of qadā (legal judgment), the wealth of the father and son is separate. If the father is in need, then he may take only according to his necessity from the surplus wealth of the son, without his pleasure or permission — not more than that — and this taking is only for food, drink, clothing, and living.

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, vol. 07, p. 362)

In another place in Fatawa Ridawiyyah it is written:
It must also be observed that the nafaqah (maintenance) of a needy father is obligatory upon all his well-off children equally, both son and daughter.

(Fatawa Ridawiyyah)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 23rd August 2025