Fatwa ID: 08880

 

 

Answered by: Alimah Khadija Tarwala

 

Question:

 

A) What happens if the guardians for the custody of the child refuses them and everyone from the maternal side, the paternal side, and the father himself refuses? Is there a binding or even divine penal sanction for the guardians to be obliged to take guardianship of the child, what is the status if they refuse to take guardianship of the child, what is the status of these guardians refusing custody?

B) If the mother refuses to transfer the care to the guardians after her remarriage is she punishable? Is there a penal sanction and a divine sanction in relation to her refusal?

 

 

 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

 

Answer:

 

A) According to Islamic law, if she is seen as unfit because she is immoral or a sinner, the mother is the child’s primary guardian both before and after a divorce. If the mother is unable to care for the child, the maternal grandmother is the first to be given custody, followed by the paternal grandmother and other close family members. The father is responsible for taking custody if no other guardians are available.

 

 

If he refuses, it is considered that he has not fulfilled his duty. The father is expected to support the child if there are no other suitable guardians available. Islamic law emphasises that guardianship is a duty to ensure the welfare of the child, not just a right. If all guardians decline custody, the child’s best interests must come first. There may be ethical, societal, and legal repercussions if this obligation is not met. Social repercussions could result in family disputes or community action to keep the child safe. If the guardianship dispute results in the child being neglected or harmed, there may be legal repercussions such as court intervention.

 

 

B) A mother loses her right to custody over the child when she remarries a man who is not a mahram, or a man who is not a close relative of the child. It may be considered neglecting her duties as a mother if she declines to give the child to the child’s legal guardians, especially if doing so it jeopardizes the child’s welfare. Regarding punishment, although there is no specific punishment for this, neglecting a child and acting upon what is not beneficial for the child has its own consequences. 

 

 

 

References:

الْحَضَانَة: بِالْكَسْرِ تربية الْوَلَد والأحق بحضانة الْوَلَد أمه قبل الْفرْقَة وَبعدهَا إِلَّا أَن تكون مرتدة أَو فاجرة غير مَأْمُونَة. ثمَّ أم الْأُم ثمَّ أم الْأَب ثمَّ الْأُخْت لأَب وَأم ثمَّ لأم ثمَّ لأَب. وَفِي رِوَايَة الْخَالَة أولى

من الْأُخْت لأَب ثمَّ الخالات كَذَلِك ثمَّ العمات كَذَلِك أَي لأَب وَأم ثمَّ لأم ثمَّ لأَب. وَمن نكحت من هَذِه الْمَذْكُورَات غير محرم للْوَلَد يسْقط حَقّهَا فِي حق الْحَضَانَة ثمَّ بالفرقة يعود حَقّهَا.

 

كتاب دستور العلماء جامع العلوم في اصطلاحات الفنون [الأحمد نكري] ج2: ص: 27

 

ثمَّ الْعَصَبَات بترتيبهم فِي الْعُصُوبَة. وَالأُم وَالْجدّة أَحَق بحضانة الصَّغِير حَتَّى يَسْتَغْنِي فيأكل وَيشْرب ويلبس وَحده ويستنجي وَحده. وَقدر زمَان اسْتغْنَاء الصَّغِير بِسبع سِنِين وهما أَحَق بحضانة الصَّغِيرَة حَتَّى تحيض.

كتاب دستور العلماء جامع العلوم في اصطلاحات الفنون [الأحمد نكري] ج2: ص: 27

 

لكن الموضوع كله بيدور حول أين تكون مصلحة الطفل ففي حالة معينة قد يكون هناك طفل لا يصلحه إلا نوع من الشدة، طبعًا بشروط ليس الهدف الانتقام الطفل غير مكلف، فاحنا كل الموضوع

ما الذي يحسب القرارات أن يصب في مصلحة الطفل، فكل القاعدة تدور حول مصلحته فالشريعة منحازة تمامًا إلى مصلحة الطفل، منحازة لمصلحة الطفل تمامًا لأنه لا يضمن التعبير عن نفسه، ولا يطالب بحق.

كتاب محو الأمية التربوية [محمد إسماعيل المقدم] ج12: ص: 25

 

 

 

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Khadija Tarwala

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah.

Darul Ifta Birmingham.