Where should a male child reside after the age of seven if he chooses the mother?

Chapter on Who is More Entitled to Child Custody

Al-Mughni

Book of Maintenance (Nafaqāt)

Book 46 · Issue 2 · Bab 3

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If the male child chooses to stay with the mother after the age of seven, he stays with her night and day. The father takes him during the day to enroll him in a school or apprenticeship, because the objective is the welfare of the son, and his benefit lies in these activities.