Darul Ifta Ibn Masood

Maintenance of Children

· 15 Muharram 1447 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Q1. According to Shari’ah, what is deemed as reasonable maintenance that I should pay towards my daughter’s expenses?

Q2. What exact/specific expenses am I responsible to cover in full viz. clothing, rent, loans, school fees, etc.?

Answer

A1. The calculation of a reasonable maintenance will be based on the customs and the lifestyles of the people of the area that you live in. However, if this is difficult upon you, then you will spend in a moderate manner, not being miserly nor extravagant.

A2. You are responsible for providing food, clothing, accommodation, education and all medical bills.

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

وَاتَّفَقُوا عَلَى وُجُوبِ نَفَقَةِ الْمُوسِرَيْنِ إذَا كَانَا مُوسِرَيْنِ وَعَلَى نَفَقَةِ الْمُعْسِرَيْنِ إذَا كَانَا مُعْسِرَيْنِ، وَإِنَّمَا الِاخْتِلَافُ فِيمَا إذَا كَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا مُوسِرًا وَالْآخَرُ مُعْسِرًا فَعَلَى ظَاهِرِ الرِّوَايَةِ الِاعْتِبَارُ لِحَالِ الرَّجُلِ فَإِنْ كَانَ مُوسِرًا وَهِيَ مُعْسِرَةٌ تَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ نَفَقَةُ الْمُوسِرِينَ وَلَا يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ يُطْعِمَهَا مِمَّا يَأْكُلُ، لَكِنْ قَالَ مَشَايِخُنَا يُسْتَحَبُّ لَهُ أَنْ يُؤَاكِلَهَا؛ لِأَنَّهُ مَأْمُورٌ بِحُسْنِ الْعِشْرَةِ مَعَهَا وَذَا فِي أَنْ يُؤَاكِلَهَا لِتَكُونَ نَفَقَتُهَا وَنَفَقَتُهُ سَوَاءً وَإِنْ كَانَ مُعْسِرًا وَهِيَ مُوسِرَةٌ وَجَبَ عَلَيْهِ نَفَقَةُ الْمُعْسِرِينَ؛ لِأَنَّهَا لَمَّا تَزَوَّجَتْ مُعْسِرًا فَقَدْ رَضِيَتْ بِنَفَقَةِ الْمُعْسِرِينَ، وَأَمَّا عَلَى الْمُفْتَى بِهِ فَتَجِبُ نَفَقَةُ الْوَسَطِ فِي الْمَسْأَلَتَيْنِ وَهِيَ فَوْقَ نَفَقَةِ الْمُعْسِرَةِ وَدُونَ نَفَقَةِ الْمُوسِرَةِ

(البحر الرائق 4/190)

بَابُ النَّفَقَةِ هِيَ لُغَةً: مَا يُنْفِقُهُ الْإِنْسَانُ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ. وَشَرْعًا: (هِيَ الطَّعَامُ وَالْكُسْوَةُ وَالسُّكْنَى) وَعُرْفًا هِيَ: الطَّعَامُ

(الدر المختار مع رد المحتار 3/571 – 572)

وهي ما ينفقه الإنسان على عياله وتشمل الطعام والكسوة والسكنى وغيرها من ضروريات الحياة

(الفقه الحنفي في ثوبه الجديد 2/236)

Answered by
Mufti Muhammad Isa Ali
Checked & approved by
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb
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Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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Source: Darul Ifta Ibn Masood — https://fataawa.co.za/maintenance-of-children/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/ibnmasood-39058

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