Obligation for caring for one’s grandparents

QUESTION:

Is it obligatory to look after one’s grandparents?

ANSWER:

If one’s grandparents are alive, but not financially capable of taking care of themselves, then the responsibility of taking care of them falls on the grandchildren, with the proviso that the grandchildren are wealthy, and their father is deceased.

Furthermore, it is recorded in Tafseer Raazi, that the right of close relatives is after the rights of the parents, as the relatives are related to a person because of his parents. This indicates that close relatives also have a right over us.

Allah Ta’ala states in verse 90 of Surah Nahl, “Verily Allah instructs justice, Ihsaan and giving charity to relatives.” The first people deserving of one’s kindness (and financial assistance) are one’s parents, then one’s wife and children, followed by one’s siblings, and then other relatives depending on their close relationship with one. [Jamaalain Pg.458 Vol.3] In conclusion, in the absence of the parents, it becomes the responsibility of the grandchildren to financially take care of their grandparents particularly when they are unable to take care of themselves.

Also, the Hadith states that whoever does not show mercy to our juniors and revere the elders, then he is not from amongst us. This too indicates that one should consider the elders irrespective of whether they are relatives or not. When this is the case with all seniors, then the rights of one’s grandparents are even more. Hence, one shouldn’t be asking the question whether it is obligatory on them to take care of their grandparents or not, rather one should regard it as a blessing to be afforded with the opportunity of serving them and acquiring their Duas.

حتى لو كان صحيحا مكتسبا لا يقضى له بالنفقة على غيره وإن كان معسرا إلا للأب خاصة والجد عند عدمه فإنه يقضى بنفقة الأب وإن كان قادرا على الكسب بعد أن كان معسرا على ولده الموسر وكذا نفقة الجد على ولد ولده إذا كان موسرا وإنما كان كذلك لأن المنفق عليه إذا كان قادرا على الكسب كان مستغنى بكسبه فكان غناه بكسبه كغناه بماله فلا تجب نفقته على غيره إلا الولد لأن الشرع نهى الولد عن إلحاق أدنى الأذى بالوالدين وهو التأفيف بقوله عز وجل فلا تقل لهما أف )الإسراء(23: ومعنى الأذى في إلزام الأب الكسب مع غنى الولد أكثر فكان أولى بالنهي (بدائع الصنائع 4/35)

اعْلَمْ أَنَّ حَقَّ ذِي الْقُرْبَى كَالتَّابِعِ لِحَقِّ الْوَالِدَيْنِ لِأَنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ إِنَّمَا يَتَّصِلُ بِهِ أَقْرِبَاؤُهُ بِوَاسِطَةِ اتِّصَالِهِمْ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ وَالِاتِّصَالُ بِالْوَالِدَيْنِ مُقَدَّمٌ عَلَى الِاتِّصَالِ بِذِي الْقُرْبَى، فَلِهَذَا أَخَّرَ اللَّهُ ذِكْرَهُ عَنِ الْوَالِدَيْنِ (تفيسر الرازي ص587 ج3)

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا – قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” «لَيْسَ مِنَّا مَنْ لَمْ يَرْحَمْ صَغِيرَنَا، وَلَمْ يُوَقِّرْ كَبِيرَنَا، وَيَأْمُرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ، وَيَنْهَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ» “. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ، وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ. (مرقاة ص3114 ج8)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Maulana Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date:- 19 Muharram 1444 / 07 July 2023

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai Saheb