Is Haram Income Permissible for Family? Insights from the Hadith of Barirah

Understanding the Implications of Haram Income in Light of the Hadith of Barirah

Question: I was listening to a lecture where a scholar mentioned a hadith about Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) receiving meat as charity, which she then gifted to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). When the Prophet (peace be upon him) came and asked if there was anything to eat, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that there was meat but it was given as charity to Barirah, who then gifted it to them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that it was charity for Barirah but a gift for them, so they could eat it. Using this incident as evidence, the scholar argued that if someone earns haram (forbidden) income, such as from a bank job or usurious business, it is haram for the earner but not for those on whom he spends it, including his wife and children. Is the incident of Barirah (may Allah be pleased with her) authentic, and is it correct to use it to argue that haram income is permissible for others if spent on them?

Answer: The incident is authentic and is mentioned in several hadith collections, including Sahih Bukhari. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated:

"The Prophet (peace be upon him) was given some meat. I said, 'This meat was given as charity to Barirah.' He said, 'It is charity for her and a gift for us.'" (Sahih Bukhari: 1493)

While the incident is correct, deriving the ruling that haram income can be spent on one’s wife and children from this hadith is incorrect and a misinterpretation. Income that is inherently haram, such as earnings from usury, prostitution, or gambling, is haram for everyone, including the earner and his family and relatives. The meat presented to the Prophet (peace be upon him) was inherently halal, as it was from a halal animal, and charity is permissible for Muslims but not for the Prophet’s family (Ahl al-Bayt). 

Regarding this, Sheikh Ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him) issued a fatwa when asked about a person who consumes haram income and supports others. He stated that those who are compelled, such as small children, are not sinful. However, if the wife is aware, she should seek a divorce, as it is a valid reason in Shariah to request a divorce if the husband’s income is impure. She can either demand that he change his source of income or seek a divorce to avoid living with someone who consumes haram.

 Sheikh Maqbool Ahmed Salafi (may Allah preserve him)

❪Jeddah Dawah Center, Hayy Al-Salamah – Saudi Arabia❫