He wants to recompense his aunt for the good she did for him
Fatwa No: 136735

Question

Salaamualikum, My mother's sister payed fees for my school for about six years consecutively. Now that "Ahsaan" is a mighty burden on my neck and I am very keen to remove it through any possible way. So could you please suggest any way out to fulfill her "Ahsaan"? May ALLAH (Almighty) reward you with goodness.

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 is His slave and Messenger.

 

Among the good characteristics of a believer is that he becomes grateful for the good which he received from people, and it is confirmed that the Prophet said: “Whoever did you a kindness, you should recompense him, and if you have not the means to compensate him, then supplicate for him until you feel that you have compensated him.” [Ahmad and Abu Daawood]

Therefore, you should appreciate the good that your maternal aunt did for you by praising her for this and supplicating for her. You should, first of all, respect her as an aunt, and secondly, you should respect her for the good she did for you. Indeed, the aunt is like a mother as confirmed in a Saheeh [authentic] Hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhari.

Hence, whenever you would be able to compensate her with the same thing she did for you (i.e. financially), then you should do so, especially if you become well-off and she becomes needy.

Allaah Knows best.

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