A father has abandoned his minor children Whose responsibility is it to maintain them?

Answer

The closest male Asbaat are responsible for the maintenance of the abandoned children. They are the paternal grandfather, paternal uncles, etc. If there are no Asbaat or the Asbaat refuse or fail to maintain the children, then the male relatives on the mother's side will be responsible. They are the maternal grandfather, maternal uncles, etc. If they too refuse or lack the means, then it is the responsibility of the Muslim community to fulfil this Fardh-e-Kifaayah obligation.