Question: Assalamu ‘alaykum. What are the duties of family members towards each other?
Answer:
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
In general, kind, gracious, forgiving, and beautiful character is what the duties of a Muslim are towards his relatives. This is who relationships thrive, and this is a key aspect of the Sunna of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Some family members are more deserving than others, such as one’s mother, then the father, etc. There is a balance to be maintained, however.
Some relationships have financial duties too, such as the obligation support one’s wife and children. One must provide for one’s parents if they cannot support themselves. Other family members are entitled to financial support too in certain situations. The details are best studied properly from a fiqh text due to the nature of the rulings and the many scenarios that present themselves. [Maydani, al-Lubab]
Course On Prophetic Excellence
May Allah bless us with the character that allows us to make our relationships thrive. Amin.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani