(36) Chapter: Sustentation of the Members of the Family

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'as (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Neglecting one's own dependents is a reason enough for a man to commit a sin".

[Abu Dawud]

The narration in Muslim is: Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "It is enough sin for a person to hold back the due of one whose provision is in his hand".

Commentary: This Hadith tells us that negligence in matter of maintenance of one's family is such a great sin that if a person is free from all other sins, this one alone will be enough to make him accountable before Allah. The words used in this Hadith are so comprehensive that they include servants and slaves besides family and children because he is also equally responsible for their maintenance. Thus, this Hadith makes it evident that it is the responsibility of the head of the family to provide the necessities of life to all his dependents; and any negligence on his part in this respect is a great sin.