In Islam, the family is the cornerstone of the society. Therefore, Islam gives special attention to its solidarity and strength in pursuit of establishing a well-prepared society that can face all challenges of life.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: What is important in Islam is for the children to take the responsibility of caring for the parents especially when they are in advance age and when they are unable to take care of themselves. This is an obligatory duty on children. However, this duty does not necessarily imply that the children have to live together all in the same apartment so long as the children fulfill their responsibilities by living in close proximity even though they aren’t in the same house or apartment. By doing so, they would have fulfilled their religious duty.
as far as all the grown up children, married or unmarried, living together in the same house, it is not encouraged, because of the fact it may give rise to jealousy and suspicion when some of them are living with their wives on daily contact with men (in-laws). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The in-laws are death.” This is a serious warning from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him, against creating circumstances for in-laws to be in privacy in the same house.
Circumstances like these may arise more frequently when all the brothers are living in the same house in the name of extended family.
Therefore, in conclusion, our duty towards our parents and brothers and sisters can be fulfilled while living in the proximity of one another in separated apartments or independent living quarters. It is well-known from the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he did not live with his extended family and wives in a single apartment. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, fulfilled his duties towards all of them while visiting them frequently and maintaining his obligations towards them.