Short answer
Only for need, in the Hanafi school. Parents who are poor have a right to be supported by their children and may take what they need for food, clothing and housing. A parent who is not in need may not take a child's money without the child's consent. The Hanbali school gives the father wider rights.
A child's wealth belongs to the child. Supporting poor parents is wajib on a child who can afford it, and a needy father or mother may take from the child's wealth what covers that support. Beyond need, taking without permission is not allowed; the hadith "you and your wealth belong to your father" teaches duty and respect, not ownership.
Other madhhabs
- Hanbali
- A father may take from his child's wealth whatever he wishes, even without need, as long as it does not harm the child and is not to give to another child.
Explanation
A man complained that his father wanted to take all his wealth, and the Prophet ﷺ said: you and your wealth belong to your father. He also said that your children are part of your earnings. The Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i scholars read these with the Quran's rules of inheritance, which treat a child's property as his own: they mean that a child must spend on needy parents and honour them, not that parents own everything the child has.
How it works in practice:
- Needy parents: an adult child who can afford it must provide for poor parents. If he refuses, the parent may take what is needed.
- Parents not in need: they may ask, and the child should be generous, but taking without consent is not allowed.
- A minor child's money: gifts, savings or inheritance belong to the child. The father, as guardian, manages them for the child's benefit and may not spend them on himself unless he is in need.
- A child's salary: belongs to the child. Giving it to parents is a great kindness, and many families pool income by agreement.
Good manners both ways: children should not argue harshly over money with parents, and parents should not exploit a child's income or leave a child unable to marry or provide for his own family. When there is a dispute, ask a mufti. See rights of parents, rights of children and zakat on children's money.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Nisaa 4:2
وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَتَبَدَّلُوا۟ ٱلْخَبِيثَ بِٱلطَّيِّبِ ۖ وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَمْوَٰلِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حُوبًۭا كَبِيرًۭا ﴿٢﴾
And give to the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] for the good [of theirs]. And do not consume their properties into your own. Indeed, that is ever a great sin.
A child's property is his own and must be protected by guardians.
Sunan Ibn Majah 2291
Grading to be checked... أنت ومالك لأبيك ...
"You and your wealth belong to your father."
Teaches the child's duty to support and honour his father.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1358
Grading to be checked... إن أطيب ما أكلتم من كسبكم وإن أولادكم من كسبكم ...
"The best of what you eat is from your own earnings, and your children are part of your earnings."
Parents may eat from their children's wealth when in need.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, chapter on maintenance (nafaqa), section on parents and relatives. Maintenance of poor parents is wajib on their children.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Talaq, chapter on maintenance. A needy father may take from his son's wealth for his maintenance.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Hibah, the father's right in his child's wealth. The Hanbali view on the father taking from his child's wealth.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.