Search In Fatwa

You Are Not Obliged to Buy Anything for the Parents of Your Foster Child

Question

I have breastfed my foster child upon the request of his parents up yo the age of 2yrs. His parents divorced and mother left. My husband and I took him to her as he wished yo get yo know her. She did not want him back. His father has been present however never contributed financially. Now at the age of 24 the young man wants to get married and his biological father has not come forth to stand for the boy. Are we obligated to mention him on the wedding invite and are we liable to get his biological mother a plane ticket and accommodation for wedding as the father does not seem interested in the boy since he re-married 3 years ago and the mother says we the foster milk parents are liable for this. Just really need some clarity. Shukran.

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.

You are not Islamically obliged to buy anything for the parents of your foster child (son from breastfeeding relation), neither travel tickets nor anything else, just as it is not an Islamic obligation to write the name of his father on the wedding invitation card. What is important is that the child should not be attributed to the husband of the breastfeeding mother; rather, he must be traced back to his father by lineage [i.e. his real biological father], whether in official documents or when introducing him.

It is not permissible to trace him back to the husband of the breastfeeding mother.

We recommend to the son, after fearing Allah, to be keen on being kind and dutiful to his parents, because being kind and dutiful to them is not waived under any circumstances even if they are non-Muslims. If they want to attend his wedding and they asked him to buy for them travel tickets for example, from his own money, or reserve a place for their residence, and he is able to do so, then he should obey them, because obeying them in matters that do not involve disobedience to Allah is considered part of being kind and dutiful to them.

Allah Knows best.

Related Fatwa