A father compelling his son to give voluntary charity

A question on a father obliging his son to give charity from his trade, which Egypt's Dar al-Ifta answered by saying no one may be forced to give voluntary charity. ¹

The questioner said his father is a merchant who gives much in charity, and that his elder brother has started a business of his own. ¹ The father asks the brother to give some of his goods in charity every month, and the questioner asked whether one may be obliged to give voluntary charity. ¹

Dar al-Ifta answered that voluntary charity is recommended, and is given from what exceeds one's own needs and those of one's dependants. ¹ It held that it is given only willingly and by the giver's own choice, and that no one may be obliged or forced to give it. ¹ So the father may not force his son to give his goods in charity, though he may encourage him by explaining its merit rather than by compulsion. ¹

Egypt's Dar al-Ifta published this fatwa on its site as no. 8827, dated 11 November 2025, in its zakat category, among the fatwas of Grand Mufti Nazir Ayyad. ¹ The museum records this answer as a historical text attributed to its author; it issues no ruling of its own.