What is the ruling on sisters refraining from exchanging greetings with an abusive stepmother, and what is the ruling on a son refraining from carrying out his father's decision to punish his sisters?

He explained that the stepmother's backbiting and slander are serious, and that believing her is wrong. Rather, it was obligatory to verify her statements, based on the verse: "O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful."

He mentioned that the father is religiously commanded to raise, educate, and discipline his wife, based on the verse: "O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded."

He added that it is permissible for the sisters to shun the stepmother if she does not repent, and that obeying the father is obligatory as long as it does not harm the children, and that striving for reconciliation between the parents is one of the best acts of devotion.

He clarified that the father is not obligated to financially support an adult son who is able to earn a living, but he is obligated to support his daughters until they become self-sufficient through wealth or marriage. This support should be sufficient for clothing, food, and housing, taking into account the customs of the land.

He concluded with the advice to strive for family stability and to work towards reforming the stepmother, because she is like a mother and is among the unmarriageable kin (mahram).