albaseerah.org
25-05-2009, 03:56
Question: Abu Hind from Virginia says: I would like to ask if you can explain the rights of the step-parent over the children in his home as well as the rights that the step-children have over the step-parent (clothing, food etc.) also, is it permissible for the stepchild to call the stepfather ‘Abi’ if the child is not attributed to the biological father (zinaa)?
Answer: By Allaah, as I understand this question, if the stepparent has stepchildren living with him in his house with their mother, they have no rights in Islaam on him. He doesn’t have to give them food or clothes or shelter. They have no rights upon him to provide this for them. But in Islaam it is encouraged to do good deeds for the yateem (يتيم) i.e. the one who has lost his father, or lost his mother, or the poor, or the small. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said “The one who takes care of an orphan and I are like this in paradise," and he joined his index finger and middle finger together.[1] So it is a good deed to do this – to give them a home, and give them food etc. and to treat them well, and raise them well, and let them learn; but it is not obligatory to have them in your house. It is not obligated upon you to spend on those children.
Also, those children have to be thankful and really obey their (step) father as they obey their original (biological) father. They must also listen to him as long as he doesn’t asks them to do something that is wrong or something that is against Islaam or bad manners etc. They should obey him and treat him like a father. I think that saying to him (calling him) ‘father’, ‘Abi’ or ‘Baba’ there is no problem in it inshaa’ Allaah. But he should not officially make him his son i.e. he doesn’t officially say “this stepchild is my son” or when he introduces him to others he says “this is fulan bin fulan, this is my son.” No, but if in the house he is called ‘Baba’ it is okay, like you would respect your ‘Aalim and says ‘Waalid’ (father), and like some servants say ‘Baba’, then I think Inshaa’ Allaah there is nothing wrong with it. Wallaahu A’lam.
Answered by: Shaykh Salaah Muhammad Aal Shaykh
Title of lecture: Question and answer session
Date of lecture: 20 January 2007
Listen to lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/salaah.htm)
Read transcribed lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2772)
[1] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab at-Talaaq (#4998); Kitaab al-Adab (#5659).
Answer: By Allaah, as I understand this question, if the stepparent has stepchildren living with him in his house with their mother, they have no rights in Islaam on him. He doesn’t have to give them food or clothes or shelter. They have no rights upon him to provide this for them. But in Islaam it is encouraged to do good deeds for the yateem (يتيم) i.e. the one who has lost his father, or lost his mother, or the poor, or the small. The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said “The one who takes care of an orphan and I are like this in paradise," and he joined his index finger and middle finger together.[1] So it is a good deed to do this – to give them a home, and give them food etc. and to treat them well, and raise them well, and let them learn; but it is not obligatory to have them in your house. It is not obligated upon you to spend on those children.
Also, those children have to be thankful and really obey their (step) father as they obey their original (biological) father. They must also listen to him as long as he doesn’t asks them to do something that is wrong or something that is against Islaam or bad manners etc. They should obey him and treat him like a father. I think that saying to him (calling him) ‘father’, ‘Abi’ or ‘Baba’ there is no problem in it inshaa’ Allaah. But he should not officially make him his son i.e. he doesn’t officially say “this stepchild is my son” or when he introduces him to others he says “this is fulan bin fulan, this is my son.” No, but if in the house he is called ‘Baba’ it is okay, like you would respect your ‘Aalim and says ‘Waalid’ (father), and like some servants say ‘Baba’, then I think Inshaa’ Allaah there is nothing wrong with it. Wallaahu A’lam.
Answered by: Shaykh Salaah Muhammad Aal Shaykh
Title of lecture: Question and answer session
Date of lecture: 20 January 2007
Listen to lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/audio/salaah.htm)
Read transcribed lecture: Click here (http://www.albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2772)
[1] Reported in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree, Kitaab at-Talaaq (#4998); Kitaab al-Adab (#5659).