Guidance for one who does not provide for his wife and children

Question:
This is a questioner for the program. He says in this question: Ahmad is Egyptian and works in Riyadh. He says: My father married a woman other than my mother, and that was ten years ago. He does not see her now, nor does he provide for her, nor for us. What is obligatory for us toward him, and what do you advise us to do, may Allah reward you?

Answer:
If she is satisfied and forgiving, he owes nothing. If your mother permits him to remain in her marriage while he does not provide for her and does not see her, there is nothing wrong with that. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to divorce Sawdah, so she said: "O Messenger of Allah! Keep me in your marriage, my rights are waived, and my day is for Aishah." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) agreed, and she remained in his marriage. He did not come to her, did not look at her, and did not provide for her. So if your mother permits it and is satisfied with him, there is no blame on him.
As for if she says: No, I am not satisfied. Either provide for me or divorce me; then he must divorce her. He must pronounce one divorce. But if she says: No, I am patient, I want to be with my children, you are forgiven, do not come to me, do not provide for me, I will take care of myself; then there is no blame on him, and praise be to Allah. But if she says: No, either be just or divorce me; then he must either be just or divorce her. This is the obligation.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.

The presenter: He says in a question to Your Eminence, the Shaykh: In addition to his boycotting our mother, he treats us harshly and gives us nothing, although he possesses a lot of money. This has caused some hatred for him in our hearts. What do you advise us to do, may Allah reward you?

The Shaykh : It is obligatory for him to provide for his children if they are poor. It is obligatory for him to provide for them, and to treat them with gentleness, excellence, and good character. It is also obligatory for the children to recognize his worth, to be dutiful to him, and to address him in the best manner. If the need arises to take the matter to the court, there is nothing wrong with it. They say: Our father, we are poor, and he has not provided for us. They take the matter to the court. And if some good people from the neighbors or relatives mediate with the father so that he will provide for them, that is better than the court, better than litigation.
My advice to the children is: gentleness, dutifulness to the father, and kind words with the father. And my advice to the father is to fear Allah, to provide for his needy children, and not to force them to complain to the court or to seek the mediation of people. He must reform himself, know what Allah has made obligatory upon him, and provide for them as long as they are poor, and be good to them, and not force them to complain or to do anything else. And it is obligatory for all the children to strive to be dutiful to their father, to speak kindly to him, and to address him in the best manner. And if the need arises to ask their uncles, or some of their neighbors, or their father's friends to mediate with their father to be good to them and fulfill their rights instead of complaining, that is better and more excellent.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.