Elderly Care in the Islamic Perspective: A Critical and Analytical Study in the Light of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah

Abstract

Islam provides comprehensive ethical, social, and legal guidance for every stage of human life. Old age is a stage characterized by increasing physical weakness, economic dependence, emotional needs, and the requirement for special care. This study critically and analytically examines the Islamic concept of elderly care in the light of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah. The Qur’an, particularly in relation to ageing parents, emphasizes service, respect, compassion, and dignified treatment. The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) likewise emphasizes respect for the elderly, recognition of their rights, and compassionate treatment toward them. From the perspective of Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, elderly care is directly related to the protection of life, intellect, wealth, family, and human dignity. The study demonstrates that, in Islam, elderly care is not merely an act of moral compassion but a religious, familial, and social responsibility. Nevertheless, in contemporary circumstances where families may be unable to provide continuous care, organized institutional elderly care may also be compatible with Islamic principles when it is based on genuine need and ensures the dignity, religious needs, financial rights, safety, and overall well-being of elderly persons.

Keywords: Elderly, Older Persons, Care, Qur’an, Sunnah, Maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah, Parents, Human Dignity.