A man who married a woman who has children by a previous marriage says that he is not responsible to maintain the children who are minors.

Answer

The responsibility of the maintenance of her children by a previous husband is on the children‟s father. If he fails or refuses, then it devolves on the male relatives of the father i.e. his brothers, nephews. If he has no such relatives to maintain the children or if they are callous and refuse to fulfil their obligation, then the duty will be on the mother‟s male relatives. If they too fail, then the duty devolves on the stepfather. He may not abandon them. When he married their mother, he invited the obligation to support the children as well. A Muslim may not behave like an animal. He is utterly callous and shameless for refusing this responsibility.