نفقہ اور کفالت کا اسلامی تصور اور پاکستانی قانونِ خاندان: بدائع الصنائع کی روشنی میں ایک تجزياتی مطالعہ

THE ISLAMIC CONCEPT OF MAINTENANCE AND CHILD SUPPORT VS. PAKISTANI FAMILY LAWS: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY IN THE LIGHT OF BADA'I AL-SANA'I

Abstract

This research paper explores the Islamic concept of maintenance (Nafaqah) and child support through a comparative and analytical lens, juxtaposing the classical juristic principles outlined in Imam Al-Kasani’s magnum opus, Bada'i al-Sana'i fi Tartib al-Shara'i, against the contemporary statutory framework of Pakistani family laws. Family stability in Islam heavily relies on economic security, where the husband or father bears the absolute legal and financial responsibility of providing for the dependents. This study delves into how classical Hanafi jurisprudence conceptualizes the underlying reasons for maintenance, specifically focusing on the intersection of the wife's or child's actual needs (Hajat) and the provider's financial capacity (Wus'at or Yasar).  By examining Section 9 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, alongside the evolving judicial precedents of the Supreme Court and High Courts of Pakistan, this paper evaluates the practical criteria adopted by modern family courts to determine maintenance amounts. The findings reveal a profound systemic alignment between classical Hanafi rulings and Pakistani judicial trends, as courts increasingly prioritize a balanced approach that accurately measures the dependent’s baseline necessity while preventing undue financial hardship on the provider. Ultimately, this comparative analysis underscores the enduring relevance of Al-Kasani's juristic methodology in resolving contemporary family disputes and provides actionable insights for legislative refinement in Pakistan's family court system.