What is the religious ruling regarding a father who abandons his children for the sake of his wife and wants to evict them from their only home, having squandered his wealth on his wife and her family? And what is the religious ruling regarding his children whom their father has forsaken for refusing to leave the home?

If the father does not neglect the upbringing of his children or fall short in their obligatory maintenance, and he lives alone with his new wife, there is no blame upon him for that, or for spending on her and her family. However, if he leaves his young children and neglects their maintenance and upbringing, and wishes to expel them from their home, he is sinful, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "All of you are shepherds, and all of you are responsible for your flock," and "It is sufficient sin for a man to neglect those he maintains," and "It is sufficient sin for a man to withhold from those whose sustenance he possesses."

The majority of scholars hold that the maintenance of an adult son is not obligatory upon his father unless he is incapacitated, whereas the Hanbalis believe that the maintenance of a poor son is obligatory upon his father even if he is an adult and strong. In all cases, children must honor their father and accompany him with kindness.