The children should facilitate their father's marriage, even if he is old Fatwa No: 16598
- Fatwa Date:21-2-2012
My father is 73 years old. Two years ago, he wanted to marry and I facilitated marriage for him, but when the time of the wedding drew near, he asked me to cancel it due to sexual incompetence. Now he wants to marry again, but I can hardly find him a suitable woman because of his old age. I am obedient to him and really want to respond to his request. In the meantime, I am afraid that if I find one that he would decline for the same reason. What should I do, as I am confused on this issue?
May Allaah reward you.
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.
Scholars cited that it is obligatory upon the children who have the financial capability to help their indigent father who seeks chastity to marry. Thus, you have to respond to your father's request and marry him off. His cancellation of the first wedding does not entitle you to turn down his request the second time. Maybe he had some illness or a sudden disinclination for marriage, which was temporary. Medically speaking, past and contemporary researches show that men are capable of fulfilling their sexual desire and its implications even after the age of a hundred.
Allaah Knows best.