What is the ruling on a father who does not inquire about his daughter or see her, and does his custody of her, and that of his family who also did not inquire about her, fall, especially if this causes psychological harm to the daughter?
A father who abandons his daughter and does not inquire about her without an excuse commits a grave sin, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "It is sufficient sin for a man to neglect those whom he supports." Custody belongs to the mother as long as she is fit for it, and if there is an impediment, it transfers to the maternal grandmother according to the majority of scholars. When custody transfers to the father, it is stipulated that there be a woman with him to undertake the custody. Scholars have stipulated conditions for the custodian that ensure the well-being of the child, and if these conditions are not met, custody is forfeited, as the child's well-being takes precedence over all else. In case of dispute, the Sharia court is the arbiter, and parents should reach an agreement and consider the best interests of their children.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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