One’s Dependents

أُتِيَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ بِيَتِيمٍ فَقَالَ خُذُوا بِنَفَقَتِهِ أَقْرَبَ النَّاسِ مِنْهُ مِنَ الْعَشِيرَةِ كَمَا يَأْكُلُ مِيرَاثَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that an orphan was brought before ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), who said, ‘Make his closest relative pay for his expenses; such people are the ones who claim his legacy.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَنْ يَلْزَمُ الرَّجُلَ مِنْ قَرَابَتِهِ مِمَّنْ يُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ الْوَالِدَانِ وَ الْوَلَدُ وَ الزَّوْجَةُ.

“I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘Who are one’s dependents for whom providing sustenance is obligatory on him?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘Such people are one’s parents, children and wife.’”