Upon whom does the maintenance of a divorced or widowed woman devolve, who has no children, or whose children are young and unable to work? Is it upon her family and brothers, or upon the Muslim treasury (Bayt al-Mal)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman revocably divorced ( raj'i) is entitled to maintenance from her ex-husband, even if she is wealthy. As for a woman irrevocably divorced (talaq ba'in) or a poor widow, her maintenance is incumbent upon her able-bodied children. If she has no children, then upon her father. If he is unable, then upon her brothers, and then upon whoever would inherit from her. If she has no provider, then her maintenance is from the treasury of the Muslims (bayt al-mal).
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/91995
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 91995
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy