Question:

May Allah bless you. The female questioner symbolized her name with M. S., saying: Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, honored me and some of my siblings with entering the religion of Islam. My question is: What are the rights of non-Muslim parents upon their Muslim children, as well as the rights of siblings and relatives in terms of visits, financial maintenance, and keeping ties of kinship? When is financial maintenance obligatory and when is it recommended? May Allah bless you.

Answer:

The duty of a Muslim child toward their parents is to treat them with righteousness and kindness in matters concerning worldly life. This is based on the statement of Allah, the Blessed and Exalted:

“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination. But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not, but behave with them in the world kindly,…” (Luqman: 14-15)

Thus, Allah, the Exalted, commanded us to accompany non-Muslim parents in this world with kindness. We are to provide for them financially, clothe them, and give them gifts, while simultaneously inviting them to Islam, so that perhaps Allah may place Islam in their hearts and they embrace it.

Similarly, regarding relatives who are not Muslims, He stated that they have a bond of kinship that must be maintained. Therefore, ties must be kept with them, and this relative who is kept in contact should be invited to Islam, so that perhaps Allah may open their heart to guidance.