Is the husband obliged to rent accommodation for his son who is in the custody of his ex-wife?

I have a friend whose wife was wilfully defiant (nushooz), and she went back to her family's house and stayed there a year or more, during which time she gave birth to a daughter with whom she was pregnant at the time she left the house. During that year she took my friend to the sharee’ah court to prove that she had been harmed when she was married to him, but it did not bring any result, because she was found to have not been harmed. That was even the view of her last lawyer, who tried to convince her to do khula’ instead, whilst trying to persuade my friend to give up his demand for the mahr and marriage expenses, and obliging him to pay the child’s expenses, which comes to 90 Libyan dinars, which is a large amount for my friend who is currently out of work.
My question is: is there among the expenses of the girl anything that may be called rental of accommodation which he is obliged to pay to the mother with the rest of the expenses? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you, as the matter depends on how legitimate this issue is, and what exactly may be included under the heading of expenses?.

Praise be to Allah.

Spending on the child's maintenance is obligatory for his father, and is not waived in the event of the mother's wilful disobedience (nushooz) or divorce. If the child is in the mother's custody, then the maintenance should be given to her.

Similarly if the mother with custody asks for a fee for breastfeeding a child, it should be given to her, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Then if they give suck to the children for you, give them their due payment, and let each of you accept the advice of the other in a just way”

[al-Talaaq 65:6]

See al-Mughni (11/411, 432)

Maintenance includes: food, clothing and other expenses that the child needs such as education. Attention must be paid to the father’s situation, whether he is rich or poor, 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].

The scholars differed concerning the small child who is in his mother's custody: does the obligatory spending on his maintenance include accommodation or not? Some scholars were of the view that the father is obliged to spend on his child’s accommodation, because accommodation is essential for him.

Other scholars were of the view that he does not need accommodation and his mother's accommodation is sufficient, because he is in her custody.

Ibn ‘Aabideen (may Allaah have mercy on him) favoured a middle view between these two, which is a good view, namely that it is obligatory to pay for accommodation for the child if the mother has no accommodation, but if the mother does have accommodation, then the father does not have to pay for accommodation for him. He said: The point is that what matters is accommodation for the child, but this applies only if the mother does not have accommodation. But if she does have accommodation and she can have custody of the child there and he can live with her, then (the father is not obliged to pay for it), because there is no need for it. And... It is quite obvious that this is the kindest to both parties, so this is what they should act upon. End quote.

Haashiyat Ibn ‘Aabideen (2/562).

As there is a difference of opinion among the scholars concerning this issue, then the matter should be referred to the judge, who may judge as he sees fit, and both parties must submit to that.

And Allaah knows best.

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Is the husband obliged to rent accommodation for his son who is in the custody of his ex-wife?

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