If, however, his constant harshness and rough treatment drive them away, that will only estrange them from him and cause them to grow up badly. The father, therefore, must take this into account with his children, for they are a trust in his care and he is responsible for them: “Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be questioned about his flock.”

As for your own duty toward him, it is to show kindness and to be patient with whatever he says or does. He is your father, he holds great rights over you, and you are his children. You must therefore treat him well and bear patiently with his harshness; such patience may prompt him to reconsider and recognize his mistake. Allah, Most High, knows best.

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Equity between Children

Question: I am a man whom Allah has afflicted with a disease in my right leg, and the doctors have decided to amputate it, leaving me unable to work. I support a large family and have three brothers. My father, however, has sold his farms to my three brothers, and because I could not afford to buy any portion, I received nothing. Is my father’s action correct, or do I have the right to claim my share without having to buy it?

Answer: If your father sold those farms to your brothers through a genuine, valid sale—one involving no trickery, collusion, or coercion—and he sold them to them just as he would sell to anyone else for the full price, taking the entire payment himself, then there is no blame on him for that, and you have no right to object, for there is no favoritism or preferential treatment involved.