His words, “And upon the one to whom the child is born” embrace both the immediate father and every ascendant—such as the grandfather and those above him. Consequently, the obligation extends to supporting one’s grandchildren, however remote the generation.
This obligation, however, is subject to three conditions:
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The person charged with providing must possess the means to do so. If he is unable, no duty rests upon him, for Allah says, “Let a man of ample means spend according to his means, and let the one whose provision is constrained spend from what Allah has granted him. Allah does not burden any soul beyond what He has bestowed upon it…” (at-Talāq 65:7).
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The relative to be maintained must be incapable of supporting himself. Should he have the ability to earn his own living, he takes precedence over others in meeting his needs, and no one is obliged to maintain him; being self-sufficient, he has no claim on another’s wealth.
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The one who provides must be an heir of the person to be maintained, as Allah says, “And the heir shall have the like of that” (al-Baqarah 2:233). A relative who does not stand to inherit is not bound to spend on him.
When these three conditions are met, a relative who is an heir must supply his kinsman with everything he needs—food, drink, clothing, housing, and even the expenses of marriage. If he can meet some, but not all, of those needs, he must still complete what is lacking, in keeping with the general wording, “And the heir shall have the like of that” (al-Baqarah 2:233).
The author then cites three verses: the first, “And upon the father of the child lies their provision and clothing, in accordance with what is proper” (al-Baqarah 2:233); the second, “Let a man of ample means spend according to his means, and whoever is limited in resources, let him spend out of what Allah has given him” (at-Talāq 65:7); and the third