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She discovered that her father has a child no one knows about

Question

Assalamu alaikum, A sister is asking the following question: What should a daughter do if she finds out that her father has another child but no one knows about it? JazakAllahu khayran.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

If what the enquirer meant is that her father married another woman other than her mother, and has a child from her, then that child is a brother to that sister and to her other brothers and sisters if she has any. It is obligatory upon her to maintain ties of kinship with him as much as she can after knowing that he is her brother. Maintaining kinship ties is determined by the customs of people; so it is all what people deem a form of maintaining kinship such as visiting, phone calls and asking relatives how they are doing. Abu Hurayrah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Learn enough about your lineage so that you can maintain ties of kinship; for maintaining ties of kinship instills love among the relatives, increases one's wealth and extends one's lifespan.” [Ahmad in Al-Musnad and At-Tirmithi in his Sunan]

It is not obligatory upon her to tell her mother or the rest of her family about the matter of her brother unless there is something that necitates telling them such as inheritance and the like so that the rights would not be lost.

If what is meant by your question is something other than that, then kindly clarify it to us so that we may answer you accurately.

Allaah Knows best.

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