When must a person spend on his parents?

The basis for the obligation of financial support for relatives (nafaqah) is the Qur'an, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus (ijma'). This is exemplified by Allah's saying: "And upon the father is their provision and their clothing according to what is reasonable" (Qur'an 2:233), and "And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And to parents, do good" (Qur'an 17:23), and part of "doing good" is spending on them. Scholars have unanimously agreed on the obligation of a child to provide financial support for their poor parents. The conditions for the obligation of financial support are the financial capability of the provider and the indigence and need of the recipient.