Concerned about his son living with his non-religious ex-wife
3-5-2005 | IslamWeb
Question:
My son is 15 years old and living in Germany since 1994 with my divorced wife. I cannot get and visit him, he cannot make him live with me according to Islam principles. I know that by heritage he is Muslim. His mother is not a believer in Christian religion. But I am afraid influence may come to him from any side and become Christian. What can I do? To God is my son always Muslim? Bearing in mind that he practice no religion neither Islam nor Christianity.
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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
First of all, you should know that a Muslim is only permitted to marry a Muslim woman or a chaste woman from the people of the book, and he is not allowed to marry a woman who does not believe in or follow any religion. So if this woman is not a Muslim and is neither a Christian nor a Jew, and you married her while knowing that it is forbidden for you to marry her, then your marriage to her is void and the child is not your son.
However, if you married her not knowing that it is forbidden for you to marry her then the child is traced back to you because it was a doubtful marriage. So, we advise you [if it is the case] to endeavour to contact the child by any means of communication, and endeavour to soften his heart so that you can influence him. Then, you can gradually encourage him to come to your country to live with you if possible. Otherwise, continue to call him to Islam and explain to him the truth through any means of communication; it might be that Allaah will guide him thanks to you, and he will be brought up according to Islamic principles and good moral conduct. Moreover, we advise you to recommend him to the Muslims who are running Islamic centres in
Allaah knows best.