Fatwa No : 88963
Spending the Wealth of a Mentally Impaired Person on Himself

Spending the Wealth of a Mentally Impaired Person on Himself

If elderly parents or parents-in-law are alive but have become mentally impaired such that they eat food and then forget, go to someone’s house and forget why they went, or place their belongings or money somewhere and then forget about it, then is it permissible for us to use their money within our household where they are living? Is it permissible, while they are alive, to spend their wealth on their food and drink? And since the money belongs to them, is it permissible to spend it on them themselves? For example, is it permissible to prepare good food for them from their own money and provide it to them?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the given situation, even if the parents or parents-in-law have lost their memory and mental awareness, their wealth, during their lifetime, remains legally their own property according to Shariah. Therefore, it is not permissible for the children, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, or others to use their wealth for personal purposes, as such use would amount to misappropriation (khiyanah). However, if they are genuinely mentally incapacitated and lack the ability to make sound decisions regarding their wealth, then their Shariah-appointed guardian (wali) is permitted to manage their wealth strictly to the extent of their necessities, such as food, medicine, medical treatment, clothing, and similar essential needs. Accordingly, it is permissible to spend their own money on their food, treatment, and comfort. Apart from this, using their wealth for the benefit of others or for general household expenses is not permissible under Shariah, and it must be avoided in all circumstances.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کما فی مشکوٰۃ المصابیح:وعن أبي حرة الرقاشي عن عمه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ألا لا تظلموا ألا لا يحل مال امرئ إلا بطيب نفس منه. رواه البيهقي في شعب الإيمان والدارقطني في المجتبى(کتاب البیوع، باب الغصب والعارية، الفصل الثانی،ج:1،ص:261، ط: رحمانيه)۔
وفی الموسوعۃ الفقھیۃ: نص الفقهاء على أنه يلزم على ولي المجنون والمجنونة تدبير شئونه ورعاية أموره بما فيه حظ المجنون، وبما يحقق مصلحته، فينفق عليه في كل حوائجه من ماله بالمعروف، ويداويه ويرعى صحته، ويقيده ويحجزه عن أن ينال الناس بالأذى أو ينالوه به إن خيف ذلك منه، صونا له، وحفظا للمجتمع من ضرره الخ(‌‌‌‌النوع الثاني: الولاية على النفس، السبب الثاني الجنون،ج: 45،ص: 172، ط:وزارة الأوقاف والشئون الإسلامية الكويت)۔