The right of upbringing (tarbiya)

Question

Question: There are four children from a widow, and all of them are minors. The widow wants to keep these children with her by force, and also wants to take their share of the inheritance into her possession. What if their paternal uncles, against the widow’s wishes, take these children into their care or safeguard their belongings and their inheritance?

Answer

Until the age of seven the child should stay with the mother; after that, for the sake of his education and the like, let the paternal uncles bring him up, yet even then let no restriction be placed on meeting the mother.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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