What should a son do who is unable to marry and build his own life because he is forced to repeatedly pay off his father's debts, a father who verbally and physically abuses his mother, and refuses to stop borrowing from people despite the son's repeated attempts?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If the father is poor and destitute, then it is obligatory for the son to spend on him. However, paying off his debts is not obligatory for him, and he has the right to refuse to pay them and save his money for marriage.
Nevertheless, it is not permissible for the son to mistreat his father or raise his voice at him, even if the father is abusive or unjust, due to the great right of fatherhood. Rather, he should advise him gently and courteously, and enjoin good and forbid evil to him without harshness or severity in speech.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/185852
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 185852
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy