Guardianship and Custody of a Natural Child in Islamic Jurisprudence and Iranian Law

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

sku.ac.ir

Abstract

One of the key issues in family law is the guardianship of a natural father and his duties toward the child. The majority of Imamiya jurists, followed by the Iranian legislator in Article 1167 of the Civil Code, hold that there is no legal kinship between a natural father and his child. However, they have remained silent on the matter of guardianship and the duties of the natural father, such as alimony and custody, and have not explicitly stated a position. On the other hand, Islamic jurists differ on this matter. Some believe the child cannot be attributed to the natural father, while others assert that certain responsibilities are established and consider them among his obligations. The majority of Imamiya jurists and some Sunni scholars, citing the severance of kinship between the father and the natural child, argue that the natural father has no duties and that the guardians hip of the natural child falls to the religious authority. The root of these disagreements lies in different interpretations and analyses of the evidences cited by the jurists. Some contemporary Imamiya scholars, drawing on general legal principles and jurisprudential rules, recognize the responsibilities of the natural father. Given the importance of this issue and the ambiguity in the Civil Code, the present research—using a library method and a descriptive-analytical approach—seeks to answer the question: Who holds guardianship and custody of the natural child? The findings identify the natural father as the guardian. Consequently, he is also responsible for providing for the child's living expenses. Custody, based on general legal principles, is first assigned to the mother and then to the natural father

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Main Subjects


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