Do I Have to Pay Back my Father After Graduating?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question: Assalamu ‘Alaykum, My dad gave me a lot of money for my undergraduate studies. Do I have to pay it back?

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

If your father did not specify that this money was a loan then you are not obliged to pay it back. You can assume it was a gift.

Repaying Good With Good

Having said that, some of the best qualities one can acquire are gratitude and being appreciative. If it is possible do give it back to your father. Even if he does not accept the money he will appreciate the gesture.

The Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever does something good for you do something equivalent for them. If you’re unable to do so then pray for them until you think you have done the equivalent.“ (Abu Dawud)

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with erudite scholars such as Shaykh Adnan Darwish, Shaykh Abdurrahman Arjan, Shaykh Hussain Darwish, and Shaykh Muhammad Darwish. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic with teachers such as Dr. Ashraf Muneeb, Dr. Salah Abu’l-Hajj, Dr. Hamza al-Bakri, Shaykh Ahmad Hasanat, Dr. Mansur Abu Zina, and others. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Qur’anic recital by Shakh Samir Jabir and Shaykh Yahya Qandil. With Shaykh Ali, he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Qur’anic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.