Q. Could you please explain the prophecy which speaks of the advent of the Mahdi and when will that take place? What are the signs associated with his arrival?
H. Solenkhi
A. The Prophet alerted us to a number of future events, such as the warning against the Dajjal, or the Impostor, and the second coming of the Prophet Jesus Christ. One of these future events is the advent of the Mahdi, whom we know from his title to be rightly guided. He appears before the second coming of Jesus and when Jesus comes, he hands over the leadership of the believers to him. He is an ordinary human being to whom God grants guidance. Hence his title.
When exactly are these events to take place is something God has chosen not to reveal to us. Had He told us that they will happen on such and such a date, we are likely to slacken in our efforts to serve God’s cause. If the date is far away, we may think that our efforts are unlikely to succeed, and we should only wait for the Mahdi, or Jesus Christ’s second coming. If the date is soon, we will say it is better to wait so that our efforts are put on the right track and are not wasted. We would forget that when the Mahdi comes, he will need people to support him, and these can only be the people that are already engaged in serving God’s cause. Therefore, we must always do our best in furthering God’s cause, without looking to the future events the Prophet has mentioned. If these occur in our lifetime and we are on the side of the God and His messenger, we will be sure to help in bringing about the triumph of God’s message. If we die before they take place, we would have done our duty and will be sure to earn our reward from God.
Maintaining justice between one’s children
Q. I refer to what you have said about maintaining justice between one’s children and the Hadith you have quoted. I wish to ask about how far are we required to look at every step in order to ensure complete justice. For example, if I give three of my children 5,000 riyals each to cover their pilgrimage expenses, should I give the same to my two younger children, or is it sufficient that I cover their expenses? A relative of mine gave a piece of jewelry to each of his two daughters, and gave his sons a much smaller amount in cash: should he adjust this and give the others the same?
May I also ask whether an elder brother who looks after the education of his younger siblings and bears their marriage expenses encroaches upon the rights of his children? Also, if a parent uses the cash his young children receive in gifts from other relatives to buy them clothes or other things they need, is he entitled to do so?
S. Siraj
A. The Hadith that establishes the equal rights of children and the prohibition of favoring one or some of them with special gifts is well known. A man said to the Prophet: “I have given this son of mine a slave as a present, and I would like you to witness that.” The Prophet asked him whether he gave every child of his a similar gift. When the man answered in the negative, the Prophet said to him: “Find yourself someone else to witness it, because I do not witness injustice.”
This is a highly authentic Hadith, reported in different versions which are all related in the six main Hadith collections. As it is clear from the Hadith, the gift was a very special one, and highly valuable. It was not of the type parents normally give to their children. Hence the Prophet wanted to make sure that justice was made. As for the normal and daily expenses of children, they are bound to differ, particularly as they grow up and need to pursue different routes in life. What is required of parents is that they must not show favoritism so as to give one or more of their children more than the others. Within this framework, each child should be helped until he or she can stand on their own feet.
Let us take this example. In the education of one’s children, one child may want to go to university, while another wants to do some vocational training and start a career. The first may need to study for four years, when the fees are high and he cannot contribute to his own expenses. The other may only finish his secondary education and join an institute or college for practical training lasting two years. The fees may be much less, and he can start work much earlier than his brother. The father need not pay the second son an amount in lieu of the extra expense he incurs in connection with his other son’s education.
If you give your three sons their pilgrimage expenses, this is a special gift. You need to maintain justice between all your children, by allocating a similar amount to them. You may keep this with you until such time when they need to go to pilgrimage. If you are going to pilgrimage yourself and take your other children with you, bearing their expenses, you have given them what they are entitled to, even if what you spend on their pilgrimage is much smaller, because you gave them the same thing in kind. If you are speaking about covering their normal living expenses, then this is not enough, because you have done the same with the elder children and now you are giving them their pilgrimage expenses as a present.
As for giving girls jewelry, this is often done by parents who feel that their sons take a much larger portion of their expenses. To compensate their daughters, they provide them with such gifts. This is appropriate. On the other hand, if such jewelry is intended to help with the marriage expenses of their daughters, while they are helping their sons in some other way, this is again appropriate. What is not appropriate is favoritism.
You certainly have not jeopardized any rights of your children by looking after your younger brothers and sisters. What you are required to do is to provide your children with sound upbringing according to your means. You would have failed in your duty if you had not looked after your brothers and sisters. Moreover, it may be that God has given you a much better life, and a greater income for so doing, which in turn benefits your children.
If a father needs to use his children’s money to look after them, he may do so. If he has the means to cover their expenses, without resorting to such use, it is much better if he saves their money for them, or invests it.
Arab News Islam 13 December 2002
