Fatwa: # 18509
Category: Misc. Fiqh
Country: Saudi Arabia
Date: 23rd February 2010

Title

In case of divorce custody of children goes to whom?

Question

In case of divorce custody of children goes to whom?

Answer

 

In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful


Assalāmu ῾alaykum wa Rahmatullāhi Wabarakātuh

 

In principle the mother of the child has the right of custody over the child. The father cannot take this child away. However the father will have to pay for all the expenses that will be borne in order to bring up the child. [1]

·         The right of custody over a boy remains as long as the boy does not reach the age of seven. Once the boy reaches the age of seven, the father has the right of custody.[2]

·        The right of custody over a girl remains until she reaches nine years of age. Once she turns nine, the father has the right of custody. [3]

 

In any event, which ever parent has the right of custody, the other parent has visitation rights with mutual agreement.

 

And Allāh Ta῾āla Knows Best

Wassalāmu ῾alaykum 

 

Ml. Luqman Hansrot,
Student Dārul Iftā

 

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Dārul Iftā



[1] وإذا وقعت الفرقة ين الزوجين فالأم أحق بالولد لما روى أن امرأة قالت يا رسول الله إن ابني هذا كان بطني له وعاء وحجري له حواء وثديي له سقاء وزعم أبوه أنه ينزعه مني فقال عليه الصلاة والسلام أنت أحق به مالم تتزوجي ولأن الأم أشفق وأقدر على الحضانة ... والنفقة على الأب على ما نذكر ولا تجبر الأم عليه لأنها عست تعجز عن الحضانة.
(هدايه,مكتبه شركة علمية , ج2,ص434)
الأم أحق بالولد ولو سيئة السيرة معروفة بالفجور
.
(الدر المختار,سعيد , ج3,ص556)

[2] ( والحاضنة ) أما أو غيرها ( أحق به ) أي بالغلام حتى يستغني عن النساء وقدر بسبع وبه يفتى لأنه الغالب ولو اختلفا في سنه فإن أكل وشرب ولبس واستنجى وحده دفع إليه ولو جبرا وإلا لا
 ( والأم والجدة ) لأم أو لأب ( أحق بها ) بالصغيرة ( حتى تحيض ) أي تبلغ في ظاهر الرواية.
(الدر المختار,سعيد , ج3,ص566)

 

[3] (Bahisti Zewar, Zam Zam Publishers, Vol 1, Pg 420,421)

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