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Fatwa CenterBeing in debt does not forbid giving charity to relatives
Question
As Salaamu alaykum My husband's niece is getting married and her father asked my husband for financial assistance because the economical situation in our country (Middle-East) is very bad. I do not feel like we should help them because we have debts to pay. What is the right thing to do from the Islamic point of view? Jazaka Allah khairn
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
Kindness towards people is one of the most rewardable good deeds, especially towards those in need of it and one's relatives in particular because the act of kindness in this case is both charity and keeping the ties of kinship. Acts of kindness are a cause for great rewards and they are one of the means to ward off tribulations and hardship.
Abu Hurayrah 
reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever relieves a Muslim of some worldly distress, Allaah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allaah will conceal him (his faults) in this world and the Day of Resurrection. And whoever relieves the burden from a destitute person, Allaah will relieve him in this world and the next. Allaah will help His slave so long as His slave helps his brother...” [Muslim]
Umm Salamah 
reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Verily, acts of kindness shield from foul endings of life; charity given in secret extinguishes the wrath of the Lord; and maintaining good ties of kinship increases one's lifespan. Every act of kindness is considered charity; the people of kindness in the worldly life are worthier of kindness in the Hereafter...” [At-Tabaraani - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)]
Moreover, kindness towards others prevents malice and envy. Hence, your husband is advised to help them if he can and Allaah, The Exalted, would compensate him. Allaah says (what means): {…But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."}[Quran 43:39]
As to the debt, if its repayment is not due immediately, then it is not necessary to give it priority over offering charity.
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