Right over children

Question

Islamically, in the case of a widow, how long has the mother the right over her children if she does not marry again (a) If she does not ever marry again can she keep her children for the rest of her life? (b) In this case where the mother decides to marry again, does the father's family have any right over the kids?

zd · Answer

Children custody is the right of the mother, till the age of 9 for daughter and 11 for son. Then the father has the right of custody. In his absence, the maternal aunts. Alteration of above may be done by mutual non - duress negotiations.