Definition of maintenance: Linguistically, it means spending until its quantity is all spent out. However, in Islam, it means providing those under one’s responsibility with food, clothing, accommodation and accessories.
2. The wisdom of its legitimacy [279]    One the serious mistakes of fathers that has an extremely negative impact on the wife and children is being stingy when spending on them although they are financially comfortable. Oftentimes, this stinginess and miserliness cause alienation between spouses, the loss of children, and forcing them to turn to those who are willing to meet their needs, even if they are not righteous. : Allah, the Most High, has legislated to spend on those who are under his responsibility to establish divine wisdom. The following highlight some of the wisdom behind the obligation to spend on the following groups:
a. The wife: The man is obliged to spend on his wife because she is under his guardianship, and she is not required to be a breadwinner. Hence, Allah has made the responsibility of covering her expenses upon her husband.
b. Needy parents: Islam made it obligatory to cover the expenses of parents when they do not have enough financial resources and considers it an act of kindness to them.
c. Poor relatives: Islam has legislated spending on poor relatives to support them because it is a  way to uphold the ties of kinship and one of their rights as Allah has made for relatives a right.