What’s the Islamic ruling of Child Care Benefit.
Can it be treated like any other source of income or should it be used exclusively for children and whatever is not used belongs to the child.
Generally it comes in the mothers account, so it should be a part of whose zakatable income.
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
Child Care Benefit (CCB) is a government based financial benefit for families or single parents to assist them with covering financial expenses of raising a child.
As per my information, the assistance is not specified for anything particular, rather comes with general expectation that it will be used for the purpose identified like buying food, clothing and other such expenses.
This suggests that it is a general tabarru (gift) towards the parents. As a rule, when one is given possessions of any monies without any strings attached, then technically it can be used for anything. Here, the government is going financial assistance with a general indication that it should be used for raising the child.
This means while the best usage of such money is towards the expenses related to the child, it is not legally warranted. This is also the case according to Shariah. Although, keep in mind that according to Islamic rules the parents are duty bound to make sure that all expenses are taken care of by the father. So, if the father receives this CCB in his ownership, he should consider this a blessing to assist him fulfiling his Shar’i duty.
However, if the CCB comes to the mother’s ownership, then while the shar’i responsibility for the expenses are still the father’s responsibility, the mother is morally expected to pitch in and take over the burden with these finances. Any ill intent of misappropriation of these funds will be adequately addressed in front of Allah.
We must understand that most times our test in Islam is not by way of fardhiyat (obligatory responsibilities), rather by way of voluntary responsibility. If someone is not shar’an expected to carry out some action which benefits another and shows good character, then it is only logical that not carrying out those expectations indicate towards a deficient character and morals. This can cause loosing a lot of grace in the court of Allah where every bit of grace will count!
Finally, CCB will be regarded as monetary income for the parent who receives it in his/her ownership, and it will be zakatable income.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi