🧭 Region & Middle East · #116
My foreign husband sends a large part of his salary to his parents back home. The children and I feel neglected. What is fair?
Helping parents in hardship is a son's responsibility, but the maintenance (nafkah) of his wife and children must be fulfilled first. The Prophet ﷺ said: “It is enough for a person to be sinful if he withholds food from those under his care” (Sahih Muslim, Book of Zakat). So the basic needs at home must not be sacrificed. At the same time, understand that for many who work far from home, the money sent back is the family's livelihood in the village. Sit down together and list the household expenses that are obligatory, then set a reasonable amount to send. If the discussion reaches a dead end, ask for help from a family counsellor or the religious affairs office. See maintenance.
Sources
Sahih Muslim, Kitab az-Zakah (Book of Zakat)