Is It Appropriate to Assign Household Chores to Male Children in Islam?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti

Question

Is there any religious issue with assigning household chores to male children? Does this undermine their masculinity?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Master of the Messengers, his Family, and all his Companions.

No Objection

There is no religious objection or prohibition against assigning household chores to male children, such as cleaning, preparing food, mending clothes, repairing shoes and furniture, or fixing minor household issues.

In fact, this is encouraged from an educational, social, and moral standpoint. It helps train boys in humility, responsibility, self-reliance, and avoiding dependency, especially considering that they may need to live alone at some point in their future, whether for work, study, or other reasons.

Moreover, it allows them to appreciate the amount of work and responsibilities that women undertake in the home, preventing them from belittling or undervaluing these tasks.

Encouraged by Islam

From a religious perspective, this is also encouraged, as it follows the example of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). In a hadith narrated by ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her), she was asked,

“What did the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) do at home?” She replied, “He used to serve his family, meaning he used to help his family with household tasks, and when the time for prayer came, he would go out to pray.” [Bukhari]

Additionally, Hisham Ibn ‘Urwa narrated from his father, who said: “A man asked ‘Aisha: ‘Did the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) do any work in his house?’ She said: ‘Yes, the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) would mend his sandals, sew his clothes, and work in his house just as any of you works in his house.’” [Ahmad]

Assigning such tasks also reinforces the values of cooperation and mutual assistance in doing good, as Allah (Most High) says:

“Cooperate with one another in goodness and righteousness, and do not cooperate in sin and transgression.” [Quran, 5:2]

Thus, assigning household chores to male children does not diminish their masculinity or reduce their status or value. Otherwise, the best of men, the most complete of human beings, the greatest in rank and honor, our master Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), would not have done such tasks.

Any cultural norm that contradicts this practice is a corrupt one that should neither be followed nor considered.

Summary

Based on the above, there is no harm in assigning some household tasks to male children to achieve the religious, moral, educational, and societal benefits mentioned. However, this should be done in moderation, ensuring that it does not interfere with other responsibilities that men should be trained in.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Abdul Sami‘ al-Yakti

Shaykh Abdul Sami‘ al-Yaqti is a Syrian scholar born in Aleppo in 1977. He obtained his degree in Shari‘a from the Shari‘a Faculty of Damascus University, a Diploma in Educational Qualification from the Faculty of Education at Aleppo University, and a Diploma in Shari‘a and a Master’s in Shari‘a from the Faculty of Shari‘a and Law at Omdurman University in Sudan. He is currently writing his doctoral thesis.

He studied under esteemed scholars such as Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri, Shaykh Mustafa al-Turkmani, and Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din Itr, among others. Shaykh al-Yakti has worked in teaching and cultural guidance in orphanages and high schools in Aleppo. He served as an Imam, Khatib, and reciter at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and as a certified trainer for Khatibs in Abu Dhabi’s Khatib Qualification Program.

He is involved in developing and teaching a youth education program at Seekers Arabic for Islamic Sciences.

Among Shaykh al-Yaqti’s significant works are “Imam al-Haramayn al-Juwayni: Bayna Ilm al-Kalam Wa Usul al-Fiqh” and the program “The Messenger of Allah Among Us (Allah bless him and give him peace).”