RETHINKING CHILD CUSTODY (HADANAH) IN MODERN MUSLIM FAMILIES: BETWEEN MATERNAL PREFERENCE AND CHILD-CENTERED JUSTICE

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33650/jhi.v10i2.14921
Authors

(1) * Muhammad Zahid Abdullah Zuhri   (Universitas Nurul Jadid Paiton Probolinggo)  
        Indonesia
(2)  Ainul Yakin   (Universitas Nurul Jadid Paiton Probolinggo)  
        Indonesia
(3)  Muhammad Haris Miftah Sibawayhie   (University of Jordan)  
        Jordan
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


This study reexamines the concept of Hadanah in Islamic family law by highlighting the dominance of maternal preference amid changes in the structure of contemporary Muslim families. The study employs a normative-interdisciplinary approach that combines an analysis of classical fiqh, attachment theory in developmental psychology, and the framework of maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah. The findings indicate that the primacy of the mother in child-rearing reflects a socio-historical construction rather than an absolute normative principle. Modern psychological studies confirm that the quality of emotional bonds and the stability of care play a more decisive role than the caregiver’s gender identity. Meanwhile, the maqāṣid approach opens up a more flexible space for reinterpretation by prioritizing the child’s best interests as the primary orientation. This study offers a conceptual formulation of Hadanah based on child-centered justice, which places the child’s best interests as the primary basis for determining custody. This model is expected to enrich the discourse on Islamic family law reform, making it more responsive, contextual, and oriented toward substantive justice.



Full Text: PDF



References


Adil, M. A. M., & Saidon, R. (2017). Religion as a Determinant of Child Welfare in Custody Cases in Malaysia and Classical Islamic Law : A Comparative Overview. Islam and Civilisational Renewal, 8(1), 35–46. https://doi.org/10.12816/0043454

Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. N. (2015). Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation. Taylor & Francis. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=zUMBCgAAQBAJ

al-Ghazali, I. (2020). Ihya’ ‘Ulumuddin 9. Nuansa Cendekia. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=4Rl_EAAAQBAJ

Aljurjani, M., Mujib, L. S., & Sainun, S. (2025). Reassessing Child Welfare in Islamic Jurisprudence: The Abrogation of Guardianship According to Al-Būṭī’s Maslahah Theory. DIKTUM: Jurnal Syariah Dan Hukum, 23(2), 196–213. https://doi.org/10.35905/diktum.v23i2.12973

Al-Qaradhawi, Y. (2001). Min fiqh al-dawlah fi al-Islam. Dar al-Shuruq. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=ygJKnQAACAAJ

Anisa, L. N. (2025). The Social Gender Construction and Its Influence on Child Custody Determination in Religious Courts in Indonesia. Mukaddimah: Jurnal Studi Islam, 10(2), 289–307.

Arianti, S., Agusniatih, A., M Monepa, J., & Nur Zuama, S. (2025). Hubungan Keterlibatan Ayah dalam Pengasuhan Terhadap Kemampuan Kognitif Anak. Kiddo: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Anak Usia Dini, 6(2), 542–556. https://doi.org/10.19105/kiddo.v6i2.21479

Auda, J. (2008). Maqasid Al-shariah as Philosophy of Islamic Law: A Systems Approach. International Institute of Islamic Thought. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=5sKQF16gdWgC

Auda, Jasser., Khan, Shiraz., & Al-Shaikh-Ali, A. S. . (2008). Maqāṣid Al-Sharīʻah : a beginner’s guide. International Institute of Islamic Thought.

Baharudin, M. H., & Nasih, A. M. (2026). VIOLATION OF CHILDREN’S MAINTENANCE RIGHT UPON DIVORCE IN INDONESIA. Malaysian Journal of Syariah and Law, 14(1), 47–60. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33102/mjsl.vol14no1.877

Bornatici, C., & Heers, M. (2020). Work-family arrangement and conflict: Do individual gender role attitudes and national gender culture matter? Social Inclusion, 8(4), 46–60. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v8i4.2967

Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and Loss (Number v. 3). Basic Books. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=4wno8khG0qwC

Bowlby, John. (1973). Attachment and loss. Volume II. Separation, anxiety and anger. Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P. R. (1999). Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications (Number v. 236). Guilford Publications. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=haEfq-nKqjgC

Corral, S., Herrero, M., Sanz Vázquez, M., Cormenzana, S., & Martínez-Pampliega, A. (2026). Latent profiles of divorce adaptation in high conflict settings: Relations with parental and child adjustment. Current Psychology, 45(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-026-09307-y

De Sanctis, J. B., Balda Noria, G., & García, A. H. (2025). Exploring How Adipose Tissue, Obesity, and Gender Influence the Immune Response to Vaccines: A Comprehensive Narrative Review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(2), 862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020862

Effendy, H. D., & MESy, S. H. (2020). Upaya Memberi Perlindungan Bagi Anak Korban Perceraian Orang Tuanya Di Pengadilan Agama. Mahkamah Agung Republik Indonesia, 23.

Firdausia, S. (2020). Hadhanah in The Concept of Compilation of Islamic Law And Law. Nurani: Jurnal Kajian Syari’ah Dan Masyarakat, 20(2), 317–322. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.19109/nurani.v20i2.7426

Hamrany, A. K., & Rusydi, B. A. (2026). RECASTING THE BEST INTERESTS TEST: Safeguarding Sibling Continuity in Indonesian Custody Adjudication. Al-Risalah: Forum Kajian Hukum Dan Sosial Kemasyarakatan, 26(1), 16–37. https://doi.org/10.30631/alrisalah.v26i1.2183

Harid, M. A., & Ashufa, A. H. (2025). Child Custody and the Principle of Best Interests in Divorce Decisions at the Makassar Religious Court. Shautuna Jurnal Ilmiah Mahasiswa Perbandingan Mazhab Dan Hukum, 532–544. https://doi.org/10.24252/shautuna.v6i3.58337

Hine, B. A., Harman, J. J., Leder-Elder, S., & Bates, E. A. (2026). Prevalence and impact of parental alienating behaviors (PABs) in adults aged 18–25 in the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Public Health, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1803173

Honey, A., Rider, J., Pituch, E., O’Mara, V., & McGrath, M. (2026). Supporting Parents with Mental Health Conditions: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Parents’ Experiences with Professional Support. Community Mental Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-026-01628-3

Hrdy, S. B. (2011). Mothers and Others: The Evolutionary Origins of Mutual Understanding. Harvard University Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=lgsNCgAAQBAJ

Kadarisman, A., Fedro, A., & Arifin, Z. (2025). BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD IN ISLAMIC FAMILY LAW: INTEGRATING MAQĀṢID AL-SHARĪ‘AH AND DOUBLE MOVEMENT THEORY IN ḤAḌĀNAH CASES. Jurnal Al-Dustur, 8(2), 155–174. https://doi.org/10.30863/aldustur.v8i2.10459

Lamb, M. E. (2010). The Role of the Father in Child Development. Wiley. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=taKDDwAAQBAJ

Mahmudah, N. (n.d.). ASPEK SOSIOLOGIS DALAM PUTUSAN PENGADILAN PADA PERKARA CERAI GUGAT.

Mernissi, F. (1991). Women and Islam: An Historical and Theological Enquiry. Basil Blackwell. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=2dCmQgAACAAJ

Muhammad, K. H. H. (2019). Fiqh Perempuan. IRCiSoD. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=4rGtDwAAQBAJ

Nazah, F. N., Gustiana, R., & Saadah, T. (2025). Gender Justice in Child Custody Disputes: The Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah Approach in Contemporary Judicial Practice. MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review, 4(2), 1328–1358. https://doi.org/10.32332/milrev.v4i2.10790

Nazah, F. N., & Muslimin, J. M. (2024). THE JUDGES LEGAL REASONING ON CHILD WELFARE’S PERSPECTIVE IN THE ḤAḌĀNAH CASES AT BANTEN RELIGIOUS COURTS. Jurnal Hukum Unissula, 40(1), 14–31. https://doi.org/10.26532/jh.v40i1.36621

Noria, C. (2025). THE IMPACT OF THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD STANDARD ON RESOLVING LEGAL CUSTODY DISPUTES. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 13(6), e04461. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v13i6.4461

Pleck, J. H., & Hofferth, S. L. (2008). Mother Involvement as an Influence on Father Involvement with Early Adolescents. Fathering: A Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice about Men as Fathers, 6(3), 267–286. https://doi.org/10.3149/fth.0603.267

Putri, V. S., Judiasih, S. D., & Kusmayanti, H. (2026). The Best Interest of the Child in Islamic Family Law: Declarative and Enforceable Custody Protection in Indonesia and Malaysia. International Journal of Nusantara Islam, 14(1), 273–290. https://doi.org/10.15575/ijni.v14i1.54393

Qudamah, I., al-Turkiyy, A. A. A. M., & al-Halawiyy, A. F. M. (1997). Al-Mughni. Dar Alam al-Kutub. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=yRghzQEACAAJ

Ramadan, M. A. (2002). The Transition from Tradition to Reform: The Shari’a Appeals Court Rulings on Child Custody (1992-2001). In Fordham International Law Journal (Vol. 26, Number 3). http://www.irmcmaghreb.org

Safii, N. M. (2025). The Role of Islamic Family Law in Modern Child Custody Cases: Balancing Sharia Principles with Contemporary Needs. Journal of Islamic Family Law, 1(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.59784/jifl.v1i1.5

SUDIRMAN L., IAIN PAREPARE. (2023). CHILD CUSTODY AFTER DIVORCE: ENHANCE A SHARED-PARENTING IN INDONESIAN MARRIAGE LEGAL SYSTEM. Russian Law Journal, 11(3), 3. https://doi.org/10.52783/rlj.v11i3.1337

Turnip, I. R. S., Harahap, S. M., Talli, A. H., Arminsyah, & Sebyar, M. H. (2024). Implementing the Concept of Co-Parenting in Divorce Cases: An Analysis Using the Maslahah Approach. Al-Istinbath: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 9(2), 427–450. https://doi.org/10.29240/jhi.v9i2.10117

Wadud, A. (1999). Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective. Oxford University Press. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=PjeHD2soxaEC

Zhao, Y., Jensen, T. M., & Munger, A. (2026). The Role of Neighborhood and Emotional Support in Mitigating Impacts of Economic Stress Among Stepfamilies. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-026-10084-w

Zuhayli, W. (1989). Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa-Adillatuh. Dar Al-Fikr Al-Mouaser. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=68byzAEACAAJ


Dimensions, PlumX, and Google Scholar Metrics

10.33650/jhi.v10i2.14921


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 muhamad zahid abdullah zuhri

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.