Maintenance and housing of a divorced woman after the ‘idda

Question

Question: Nasir contracted nikah with Nur Jahan. After a time, Nasir, while his wife Nur Jahan was still with him, contracted nikah with her paternal half-sister Shahjahan. After that he gave Nur Jahan a major (mughallaza) divorce. After he gave the major divorce, upon the persuasion of the villagers Nasir now gives Nur Jahan fifty rupees a month for her expenses and those of her children, and for a long time Nur Jahan, in this state, has been living with Nasir’s permission in one room of the house adjoining…

Answer

The children’s expenses are indeed binding upon Nasir. Nur Jahan’s expenses ceased to be binding from the end of the ‘idda; but if Nasir gives her expenses as well with the thought that she is bringing up his children, there is no harm in that either. Likewise, living in the room adjoining the house makes it easier to look after the children; this too is permissible.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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