Parents, don’t spend children’s ‘duit raya’ for your own gain – Mufti

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GEORGE TOWN – Parents are advised not to spend their child’s ‘duit raya’ for their own benefit but instead save for the child’s future use.

Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said it was haram for parents to use the money given to their children for improper use.

He said parents should use the money for the benefit of the children such as buying food, drinks, clothes, jewelry and others.

“Basically, ‘duit raya’ that is given to children belongs to them. Therefore, parents should use it for the benefit of their children.

“Parents can also take saving measures in addition to saving or investing the money for the continued benefit of their children.

“It is haram for the money to be spent recklessly, buying unnecessary items or wasting it,” he said when contacted on Friday.

Wan Salim said this when asked to comment on the ruling of parents who use their children’s ‘duit raya’ for their own benefit.

However, Wan Salim added, it was necessary for parents to take ‘duit raya’ or any possessions belonging to their children if there was a need to do so.

“The ruling must be based on a hadith narrated by At-Tirmizi from Siti ‘Aishah RA that the Prophet SAW said to a Badawi Arab, that “You and your wealth belong to your father”.

“Therefore, Imam Maliki, Hanafi and Syafie believe that it is obligatory for a father to take his son’s property only if necessary, whether with the child’s consent or not and whether he knows about it or not.

“The same is understood from Imam Ahmad Hanbal’s answer when he was asked the same question,” he said.