Is it permissible to leave the infant daughter with the father after separation?

If a divorce occurs between a husband and wife, and they have a young daughter, the mother has a greater right to her daughter's custody as long as she does not remarry, this being by the consensus of the scholars. Custody is a right for the mother, not an obligation upon her. Therefore, she may relinquish it to others from the girl's relatives if there is someone who can take her place and it does not affect the girl's best interest. However, if the girl does not accept suckling from anyone other than the mother, then it is incumbent upon the mother to nurse her.