Earn Reward by Spending on your Children

Message to parents

Earn reward by spending on your children

Asif Jahanzayb Attari Madani

The society we live in is predominated by sin more than virtue. One of these sins is that many a time, people are not given their due right. We observe many examples of this. For instance, labourers are sometimes paid less than what is due despite carrying out a lot of work. Similarly, some teachers show inadequate care in delivering lessons properly. Fathers who spend lavishly on their friends or their own whims, whilst neglecting their children (whose maintenance they are responsible for) are another example of those who do not fulfil the rights of others. Such fathers and guardians should reflect upon this Hadith of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم: ‘The best amongst you is the one best to his family.’^[1]  A man’s wealth should be spent on his wife and children for they have a right to this; it is necessary for him to take care of their needs. Allah Almighty states in the Holy Quran:

وَ عَلَى الْمَوْلُوْدِ لَهٗ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَ كِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوْفِؕ-

‘And to whom the child belongs (i.e. the father) must provide food and clothing for the (breastfeeding) women in accordance with the custom.’ ^[2]

For a father to spend on his children and family is not only necessary, but it is an act of worship and a means of attaining reward. A Hadith states: ‘There is a dinar that you spend in the way of Allah, a dinar that you spend on a slave, a dinar that you spend on someone destitute, and a dinar that you spend on your family. The greatest of them in terms of reward is the dinar that you spent on your family.’^[3]

Spending on one’s family is necessary and a means of attaining reward. Conversely, if someone has the means but does not spend on his family or does so inadequately, this is a sin. It is also an infringement of their rights. The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said regarding those who do not spend on their family: ‘It is enough for a person to be a sinner if he neglects those whose maintenance he is responsible for.’^[4]

Honourable fathers and guardians, you are requested to spend where it is necessary and rewardable for you to do so.

May Allah Almighty allow us to fulfil all our rights properly.

اٰمِیْن بِجَاہِ النَّبِیِّ الْاَمِیْن صَلَّی اللہ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلہٖ وَسَلَّم