Is a man responsible for the children of the woman he marries?

- Does a man who marries a widow with children have responsibilities toward the children of the widow he marries?

Dear Brother / Sister,

A bachelor can marry a widow, and a girl can marry a widower. It is necessary to pay attention so that the age difference will not be very much and that the remnants of the previous marriage will not affect the new one adversely.

A man is not obliged to take care of the children of the woman he marries from another man; that is, he does not become a sinner if he does not take care of them. However, it is sunnah to take care of them like his own children; thus, he will follow the Prophet (pbuh), comply with the sunnah and please his wife and children; the material and spiritual services he will do for them will be sadaqah (charity) for him.

In that case, it would be nice to have empathy while making a decision. For example, if you had children, how would you want the woman you would marry to treat them? Treat her children as you would like your children to be treated.

The following hadith should be our criterion regarding the issue as well as other issues:

“I swear by Allah, in whose Hands my life is that a person will not have a perfect belief unless he wishes for his Muslim brother what he wishes for good for himself.” (Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal, al-Musnad, el-Fethu’r-Rabbani Tertibi, Ensar Publishing: 1/113)

Questions on Islam