Assalaamualaikum, My question is: Whose responsibility is my mother in law when her husband passes?
My wife has no brothers, and says that her mother must live with us, should her father pass on. I’m not comfortable with my wife’s mother living in the same house as us.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Brother in Islam,
Ponder over the following hadeeth :
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “من نفس عن مؤمن كربة من كرب الدنيا، نفس الله عنه كربة من كرب يوم القيامة… والله في عون العبد ما كان العبد في عون أخيه”(اخرجه مسلم في صحيحه)
Translation : The messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said :” If anyone relieves a Muslim believer from one of the hardships of this worldly life, Allah will relieve him of one of the hardships of the day of resurrection…Allah helps his slave as long as he helps his brother”
(Sahih Al Muslim 4/ 2074)
Helping a person at the time of need is a great Ibaadah and holds great rewards. A Muslim is always looking for opportunities to attain the happiness of Allah Taa’la.
By opening your home to your mother in law you will be helping someone in need. You will also get the opportunity to be of service and gain Duas. See this as an opportunity to build your hereafter.
Your wife will get the opportunity to be of service to her mother . What greater service is there? . She too will be able gain Duas . All this will be a means of Barakah for you and your family .
Brother, put yourself in your wife’s shoes. If your parents were in need and had no one to assist them except you, wouldn’t you like your wife to open her heart and home to your parents ?.
Marriage is about sacrifices for each other. A successful marriage is not based only on rights and principles. In sacrifices, one makes adjustments in their personal comforts to facilitate others.
If you are in need one day, wouldn’t you want your children to open their homes to you? Remember the ball always bounces back . If your mother in law moves in with you then , you have the opportunity to show your children how parents should be treated and respected.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ahmad Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
” The messenger of Allah said, ” When Allah wishes good for someone, he bestows upon him the understanding of Deen ” [ Bukhari & Muslim ] “- @MuftiEbrahim (Twitter)