Question about custody of children

 

My question is about custody of children. I know that if a couple gets divorced than the mother has more right to the children who have not yet reached the age of independence, but if she remarries than the father has more right. My question is if the father of the children does not fulfil his financial responsibility towards the children does he still have the right to take them away from the mother? In the particular situation I am speaking of the man has demonstrated that he is able to provide, because he has remarried and has had a child and is supporting that child, but he is not supporting his two children from the previous marriage. He tells their mother that if she marries again he will take the children, is this right?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

One of the matters on which there is scholarly consensus is
that the woman is more entitled to custody of the child so long as he has
not reached the age of discernment, as the child at that stage needs the
kind of compassion and care that only women can give, but this right is
forfeited if the woman remarries, because she will be distracted by her new
husband from taking care of her child, and because there is a conflict of
interest between the child and the new husband. Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah
have mercy on him) narrated that there was scholarly consensus that the
mother’s right to custody is forfeited if she remarries. 

See: al-Kaafi by Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (1/296);
al-Mughni (8/194). 

This is indicated by the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr (may
Allaah be pleased with him) according to which a woman said: O Messenger of
Allaah, my womb was a vessel for this son of mine, and my breasts gave him
to drink, and my lap was a refuge for him, but his father has divorced me
and he wants to take him away from me. The Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to her: “You have more right to
him so long as you do not remarry.” Narrated by Ahmad (6707) and Abu Dawood
(2276); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood,
and classed as saheeh by Ibn Katheer in Irshaad al-Faqeeh (2/250). 

Secondly: 

Maintenance of children is obligatory upon the father
according to scholarly consensus, whether he keeps his wife or divorces her,
and whether the wife is poor or rich. So she is not obliged to spend on the
children if the father is around. 

If the children are in the custody of a divorced woman, then
their father must support them, and the mother who has custody of a child
who is still breastfeeding has the right to ask for payment for nursing the
child. 

Maintenance of children includes accommodation, food, drink,
clothing and education, and everything that the child needs, and is to be
based on what is reasonable, paying attention to the husband’s situation,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Let the rich man spend according to his means; and the
man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allaah
has given him. Allaah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given
him. Allaah will grant after hardship, ease”

[al-Talaaq 65:7] 

This varies from one country to another and from one person
to another. 

If the husband is rich then he must spend according to his
wealth, and if he is poor or of moderate means, then he must also spend
according to his means. If the parents agree upon a specific amount on
money, whether it is great or small, then that is up to them. But in the
case of dispute, the one who should decide about that is the qaadi (judge). 

It is permissible for a divorced woman to ask her ex-husband
for payment for breastfeeding the child, according to scholarly consensus. 

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Mughni: (The expenses for) breastfeeding the child are to be borne by
the father only, and he has no right to force the mother to breastfeed him
if she is divorced, and we know of no difference of opinion concerning that.
End quote from al-Mughni (11/430). 

He also said: If the mother asks for payment at the usual
rate for breastfeeding him, she is more entitled to that, whether the father
finds someone else to breastfeed him for free or not. Al-Mughni
(11/431). 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)
said: With regard to payment for breastfeeding, she is entitled to that
according to scholarly consensus, as Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“Then if they give suck to the children for you, give them
their due payment”

[al-Talaaq 65:6]. 

End quote from al-Fataawa al-Kubra (3/347). 

Thirdly:  

With regard to custody – as defined by a number of scholars –
it means taking care of the one who has not reached the age of discernment
and cannot live independently, and raising him in accordance with his best
interests and protecting him from anything that may harm him. Rawdat
al-Taalibeen (9/98). What is meant is taking care of the small child and
looking after him. So the main issue of custody is taking care of the
interests of the child. Hence if the father refuses to undertake this duty
towards the child, which includes maintenance, then he is sinning, and
forfeits his right to custody. It says in al-Rawdah al-Murbi’: The
child should not stay with one who does not protect him and take care of
him, because that is contrary to the purpose of custody. Al-Rawd
al-Murbi’ (3/251). 

Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisi said: Custody is aimed at looking
after the child, so it should not be given in a way that will be detrimental
to his welfare and his religious commitment. Al-Mughni (8/190).  

Ibn al-Qayyim said: If we show precedence to one of the
parents, we must pay attention to how he looks after the child. Hence Maalik
and al-Layth said: If the mother is not in a safe place or she is not of
good character, then the father has the right to take the child from her.
Similarly in the well known report from him, Imam Ahmad said that it depends
on his ability to take care of the child. If he is careless or unable to do
that, or is not of good character, or he is immorall and the mother is
different from him, then she undoubtedly has more right to take the
daughter. Our Shaykh said: If one of the parents fails to educate the boy
and raise him in accordance with Islamic teachings, then he is sinning and
has no guardianship (wilaayah) over him. Anyone who does not do his duties
as a guardian has no guardianship. He should either be dismissed as the
guardian and replaced by someone who will do what is required, or someone
else should be appointed with him who will do what is required along with
him, because the aim is to obey Allaah and His Messenger according to one’s
ability. … If the father marries a woman who does not take care of his
daughter, and her mother is better able to take care of her than this
co-wife, then custody should definitely be given to the mother. Zaad
al-Ma’aad (5/424). 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di said: But if one of them
neglects their duties with regard to custody and care of the child, then he
forfeits his guardianship and the other should be appointed instead.
Al-Fataawa al-Sa’diyyah (p. 535).  

Based on this, if the father refuses to spend on his
children’s maintenance, he forfeits the right to custody, even if his
refusal is aimed at hurting the mother. This indicates that he is not to be
trusted to take care of his children’s interests. The mother has the right
to ask him in court for maintenance of his children. 

And Allaah knows best.