Financial responsibility within a Muslim family is governed by clear lines of dependency, ensuring that vulnerable family members are supported directly through familial ties rather than public charity. In the Islamic legal tradition, a daughter cannot give her obligatory charity (Zakah) to her own parents under any circumstances. This restriction exists because children bear a direct, legal responsibility to maintain the living expenses of their aging or impoverished parents.
The Rule of Financial Maintenance
If parents have little or no means of earning, are elderly, or are highly indebted, the responsibility for their basic upkeep falls squarely upon their children. This obligation applies even if the parents live in separate households and do not share any income or expenses with their children.
A daughter who possesses financial ability is required to spend on her parents directly from her personal wealth. Her contributions should ensure that they maintain a standard of living comparable to her own, or better.
Sharing the Financial Responsibility
If there are other siblings within the family, this financial duty is shared among all brothers and sisters in proportion to their individual financial capabilities. Financial capability is evaluated by looking at both total accumulated wealth and ongoing income, rather than income alone.
Should a particular sibling fail to fulfill their share of this duty, and there is no practical way to compel them to do so, the remaining children must step forward. They are obligated to absorb the deficit and fully cover what is required to maintain their parents’ welfare and dignity.
