I am a woman who loves her family very much. Is my exaggerated love for them considered a sin? If I enter Paradise, will my husband and children be with me? I do not work for the sake of my children. Have I committed a sin by not working?

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.

Allaah The Almighty promised the people who die as believers, as well as their families, to gather them together  in Paradise. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means), {And those who believed and whose descendants followed them in faith - We will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.}[Quran 52: 21] Allaah The Almighty told us that by His Grace and Bounty He gathers them in the perfect way by elevating those who are in lower ranks to those who are in higher ranks, not vice versa.

Every Muslim, male or female, should be keen on achieving high levels of faith. They should bring up their children according to the guidance of faith and righteousness in order to attain this great reward.

The questioner’s love for her husband and children is an innate love that does not result in any sin as long as she does not give it priority over the love for Allaah The Almighty, His Messenger and His religion.

A woman will have a great reward if she is mainly focused on upbringing her children properly in an Islamic way, devoting herself for this cause, and observing her husband’s rights. These goals are better for her than the transient earnings of this worldly life that she could have if she were to work.  May Allaah The Almighty guide everyone to do what He loves and all that pleases Him.

Allaah Knows best.