What is the ruling of Islamic law regarding the wealthy and miserly father's expenditure on his infant child and the child's mother? And is his procrastination in paying the maintenance and his deliberate absence from the Shaykh's appointments considered an evasion of the ruling?

The maintenance and housing of young children who have no wealth are obligatory upon their father. Similarly, the maintenance and housing of a revocably divorced woman are obligatory upon him for the duration of her 'iddah (waiting period). Whoever withholds what is obligatory upon him is sinful, for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "It is sufficient sin for a person to withhold sustenance from those whose provision he possesses." It is advisable to refer the matter to the Sharia court to resolve the dispute and compel the man to fulfill his obligations.