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Dealing with Disbelieving Adulteress Mother

Question

My child and I as well were Christians; at that time my wife committed adultery. Now my child and myself became Muslim Al-Hamdu Li Allah. Now my child do no want to have any good relations with his mother assuming that if Islamic law had been carried out she would be killed. What is the ruling of Shariah in this concern?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The Islamic Sharee’ah stipulates that it is obligatory for one to treat his parents honorably and kindly even if they are non-Muslims. Allah, the Exalted, Says (what means):

• {And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful and kind to his parents.} [Quran 46:15]

• {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be dutiful to your parents.} [Quran 17:23]

Asma' Bint Abu Bakr  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  her said: “My mother, who was polytheist at the time of Allah's Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) visited me. So I asked the Messenger of Allah whether I should maintain ties of kinship with her. He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Yes, keep ties of kinship with her.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The disbelief of your mother is a sin greater than her committing adultery. But Islam enjoins showing mercy and kindness to one's parents and forbids disobeying them even if they were disbelievers. Rejecting faith, as it is well known, is more serious than any other sin, whether committing illicit sex or otherwise. Therefore, you all have to show kindness to your mother, keep good company with her, and obey her unless in something that involves disobedience to Allah The Almighty. If she orders you to do something unlawful, then you must not obey her. This is based on Allah's Saying (which means): {But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness…} [Quran 31:15]

You are also highly recommended to pray to Allah that He may guide her to Islam and invite her gently and wisely to accept Allah's Path. Finally, we pray to Allah, the Exalted, that He may guide her to His Infallible Religion, which is the seal of all revealed religions, and keep her steadfast on the Right Path, verily He is All-Hearing and Responsive.

Allah knows best.

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