Question
My parents were divorced many years ago while I was a little child. My father had not contributed anything to our support. He did not keep any contact with us. Now that I am an adult, my father wants to maintain ties with me, but my mother refuses. She does not want me to have any contact with him. What rights does my father have over me according to the Shariah?
Answer
Regardless of the wrongs of your father, Allah Ta'ala has created him to be your father. His status of fatherhood will endure even in Qiyaamah. As such you have to respect him even if you have no emotional love for him. You should not be concerned with his failings. His sins will be decided by Allah Ta'ala. You should maintain contact with your father.
Try to keep your contact with your father a 'secret' from your mother. It is difficult to maintain a balance when one party is motivated by only emotion and not intelligence. Maintain a telephonic contact with your father.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 28 No 10
- PDF page
- 10