Fatwa ID: 07940
Answered by: Mawlana Abdurrahman Mohammad
Question:
I wanted to ask a personal question. Basically, I grew up in a mixed background, my mum’s side is Christian and my father’s side is Muslim. I took my Shahadah during COVID. Once I started learning about the religion via the Internet, I started to become judgemental and bashed my father many times in regard to what he was following and what he was taught in Islamic school when he was a young person himself. This led me and my father to argue many times in the past and when my father started getting angry multiple times he uttered statements of Kufr. This was about 2 to 3 years ago. Moving fast forward to now, I don’t live with my father currently, but I speak on the phone with him a lot and I hear him speak positively and mention Dhikr, and I don’t argue with him anymore about religion long time ago. But I am scared about the validity of him being a Muslim. I really want to assume that he is but at the same time, I don’t know if he even realized about the consequences of uttering statements of Kufr in the past. I keep crying these days and praying that he is Muslim. Please advise me. May Allah bless you!
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
May Allah bless you for your deep concern for your father’s Iman and your efforts to guide him back to the beauty and truth of Islam. Your concern reflects a profound love for your father and a deep devotion to Allah. While this situation is deeply emotional and spiritually challenging, with patience, wisdom, prayer, and consistent duā, you can make a significant impact in bringing your father closer to Allah.
What to Do After Uttering Statements of Kufr
Iman, as defined by scholars, is the affirmation with the heart that Allah is One and affirming the Prophet Muhammad (SWS) and everything he conveyed from Allah. Apostasy is a serious matter that typically involves openly expressing statements of disbelief or rejecting a core tenet of Islam.
“The apostate is linguistically the one who returns absolutely and legally (the one who returns from the religion of Islam and its pillar is to utter the statement of disbelief on the tongue after belief) and it [Iman] is the belief in Muhammad (SWS) in all that he brought from Allah Almighty of what is known to have necessarily.”[1]
If your father uttered statements of Kufr in the past, he must reaffirm his Shahadah and renounce what he had said.
“His [conversion to] Islam is to pronounce the Shahada and disavow all religions except Islam”[2]
Strengthening Bonds Through Wisdom and Kindness
The first step in bringing your father closer to Allah is strengthening your relationship with him. Allah commands us in the Quran to call others to Islam with wisdom and good advice:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good advice and dispute with them in ways that are best.”[3]
Perhaps past arguments and confrontations may have created tension between you and your father. Try to rebuild your relationship with him by focusing on kindness, respect, and love in your conversations. Avoid sensitive topics and work on strengthening your bond with him. This will help your father feel more comfortable opening up and sharing his spiritual challenges with you.
Helping Your Father Reintegrate into the Muslim Community
A key step in reconnecting your father with Islam is to help him join a supportive Muslim community. Encourage your father to visit the Masjid and attend Islamic events. You can invite him to family dinners or Masjid gatherings. Encourage him to spend time with other Muslims to help him feel accepted and supported.
Gradual Da’wah and Building Iman Step by Step
Try your best to give Da’wah to your father and build his Iman. Remember that this is a gradual and delicate process. Read the Seerah and reflect on how the Prophet Muhammad (SWS) nurtured the faith of his companions by first strengthening their Iman. Begin with the basics and gently introduce him to other aspects of the religion. Avoid overwhelming him with rulings and obligations. Try to instill the love of Allah and the Prophet (SWS) and encourage him to focus on Allah’s mercy and kindness.
Make Abundant Du’a and Have Hope
Never give up hope and keep on praying and making duā. Pray consistently for your father’s guidance and ask Allah to soften his heart, increase his Iman, and protect him from misguidance. Have hope in Allah’s mercy and keep on trying. Your father’s engagement in Dhikr is a promising sign and a testament to the power of your sincere du’ā and dedication to guiding him towards the right path.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Mawlana Abdurrahman Mohammad
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1] بَابُ الْمُرْتَدِّ هُوَ لُغَةً الرَّاجِعُ مُطْلَقًا وَشَرْعًا (الرَّاجِعُ عَنْ دِينِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَرُكْنُهَا إجْرَاءُ كَلِمَةِ الْكُفْرِ عَلَى اللِّسَانِ بَعْدَ الْإِيمَانِ) وَهُوَ تَصْدِيقُ مُحَمَّدٍ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – فِي جَمِيعِ مَا جَاءَ بِهِ عَنْ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى مِمَّا عُلِمَ مَجِيئُهُ ضَرُورَةً
(Radd Al-Muhtār, vol. 4, pg. 221, Darul Fikr Beirut)
[2] وَإِسْلَامُهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِكَلِمَةِ الشَّهَادَةِ، وَيَتَبَرَّأَ عَنْ الْأَدْيَانِ كُلِّهَا سِوَى الْإِسْلَامِ
(Al-Fatāwā Al-Hindiyya, vol. 2, pg. 253, Al-Maṭba’ah Al-Kubrā Al-Amīriyyah)
[3] ٱدْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِٱلْحِكْمَةِ وَٱلْمَوْعِظَةِ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَـٰدِلْهُم بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ
(Surah An-Nahl 16:125)
