Muslim Mother Raising Two Non-Muslim Children
Fatwa No: 84029

Question

A mother is raising two Kafir children. She accepted Islam when they were older and they live with her and her husband. What is her responsibility towards them? They do not oppose her in anyway. She is very displeased with them.

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 is His slave and Messenger.

This mother is obliged to treat her non-Muslim sons nicely and kindly. Dealing with good manners is among the means of calling towards Allah. She should believe that Allah will surely reward her for every penny or moment she spends for the sake of Allah. So, she should not spare any effort to call her sons to Islam. It is advisable to call them wisely and to use an impressive style without being spasmodic or angry.

Allah Says (what means): {Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.} [Quran 16:125]

Know that there is a difference between not giving consent to them and treating them with kindness. We hate disbelief but at the same time, we wish them to embrace Islam and want good for them.

The mother should not despair of their guidance since the guidance; i.e., following the truth is only in the Hands of Allah; no one else is able to guide anyone.

Allah Says (what means): {Indeed, [O Muhammad], you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided.} [Quran 28:56]

The responsibility of the person who calls towards Islam is only to convey the message, as Allah Says (what means): {…upon you is only [the duty of] notification.} [Quran 42:48]

Moreover, you should supplicate Allah to guide them to the truth and success. No doubt, Du'aa’ is an important means to get goodness, especially the supplication of a mother/father for his/her child.

Furthermore, we would like to inform this woman that if her husband is still non-Muslim, then it is not permissible for her to keep relations with him as a wife. Yet, she should separate from him immediately. If the procedure of divorce takes time in her country, then she should avoid sleeping with him or staying alone with him. According to the rulings of the Sharee'ah, she became divorced right after her acceptance of Islam as well as the refusal of her husband to be a Muslim.

Allah knows best.

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