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Father Tries to Seduce His Daughter

Question

I'm a 19-year-old girl whose father has sexual feelings towards her. My father tried to seduce me before and even though I confronted him about it, he still does it. My mom is sensing something but I don't think she can do anything about it since we rely financially on our father. I still talk to him normally though, since I know I have to respect him no matter what and that I have to keep ties of kinship. So can you please advise me and tell me if what I'm doing is right and if I should do anything to prevent this.

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.

If the situation is as you described then know that your father's Fitrah (natural predisposition upon which Allah created mankind) has deteriorated and that sexual desire has blinded him until he has lost any sense of honor or any feeling of fatherhood. Truly! To Allah we belong and truly to Him we shall return. Know dear sister that what you did is the right thing. You should never let him approach you in the way you described as you ought also to keep being kind to him. We advise you to cover yourself from him as much as you can. You should also avoid being with him in seclusion. Do not show him your adornment or anything that could attract him to you. But, under no circumstances should you let him have any affair with you. In fact, Zina )fornication or adultery) is a major sin and Zina with relatives (i.e. incest) is much greater and obnoxious. This is why Islam punishes the man who commits incest by death as well as the woman who commits that with him willingly. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Whoever has sex with one of his Mahaarim (non-marriageable women), kill him.” [Ahmad, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah] But if the woman was raped, despite her refusal, then she is not killed for such a crime because it is beyond her will. Now if you think that you would not be able to confront him, you should move to the home of one of your other Mahaarim (brother, uncle, etc…) and stay there until Allah gives you a way out. There is no objection to your calling the police if you feel real threat from him. On the other hand, if you find a good, pious man who could marry you, you may ask him to do so as to help you get out of this filthy environment. Anyway, fear Allah, advise your father and remind him of the punishment of Allah and of the fact that he is your father who should protect you from evil and not bring it to you. We hope that Allah will ease your matters. Allah Says (what means): {…And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).} [Quran 65:2]

We also hope that Allah guides your father to the right path. Again, never let him do such an obnoxious act with you.

Allah knows best.

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