Visiting Children of Former Wife

6-10-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I was married to a western woman and I have two children with her. Do I have responsibility to visit these children now?
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.

The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “All of you are guardians and are responsible for the people under your guardianship.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Therefore, you have to visit your children and take care of them. Also, you have to raise them according to Islam and put the love of Allah and His Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) in their hearts.

Know that if their mother is non-Muslim, she does not have the right of raising them. So, you should not leave your children with her since this affects their religion. The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “Every child is born on the Fitrah (natural predisposition upon which Allah created mankind – i.e. Islam) and then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magian.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah knows best.

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