Code of Muslim Personal Laws

Article 71

(1) The father and the mother shall jointly exercise just and reasonable parental authority and fulfill their responsibility over their legitimate and acknowledged children. In case of disagreement, the father's decision shall prevail unless there is a judicial order to the contrary. (2) The mother shall exercise parental authority over her children born out of wedlock, but the court may, when the best interests of the children so require, appoint a general guardian.

Article 72

(1) Children shall respect, revere, and obey their parents always unless the latter cast them into disbelief. (2) Grandparents are likewise entitled to respect and reverence, and shall be consulted whenever practicable by all members of the family on all important questions.

Article 73

Every parent and every person exercising parental authority shall see to it that the rights of the children are respected, and their duties complied with, and shall particularly by precept and example, imbue them with religious and civic attachment to the ideal of permanent world peace.

Article 74

The parents have, with respect to their unemancipated children: (a) The duty to support them, have them in their company, educate and instruct them in keeping with their means and represent them in all actions which shall redound to their benefits; and (b) The power to correct, discipline, and punish them moderately.

Article 75

(1) The father, or in his absence the mother, shall be the legal administrator of the property of the child under parental authority. If the property is worth more than five thousand pesos, the father or the mother shall give a bond to be approved by the court. (2) The court may appoint a guardian (wasi) in the absence of one who is natural or testamentary.

Article 76

Parental authority can neither be renounced nor transferred except as otherwise provided in this Code and the general principles of Islamic law.

Article 77

(1) Parental authority terminates upon the death of the parents or the child, or upon emancipation. (2) Subject to Article 78, the widowed mother who contracts a subsequent marriage shall lose parental authority and custody over all children by the deceased husband, unless the second husband is related to them within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity. (3) The court may deprive a person of parental authority or suspend the exercise thereof if he treats his children with excessive harshness, gives then corrupting or immoral orders and counsel, or abandons them.