My obligation towards my father who does not pray nor fast

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Question: My father does not pray, nor fast, and he smokes a lot, and he swears a lot and has a foul and obscene tongue, and he has begun to oppress my mother, and I do not love him, and [instead] hate [him for doing] these things.

[So] what is my obligation towards my father?

Response: [Regarding] your father, whilst he does not pray, nor fast – then he is not a Muslim, but a disbeliever.

As a disbeliever, it is not permissible for you to show any affection to him – even if he is your father, [as Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) says]:

{You will not find a people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred}, soorah al-Mujaadilah, aayah 22

[So] it is not permissible for you to display any affection towards him whilst he does not pray nor fast, as these are [from amongst the principle] pillars of Islaam.

This [person] is not a Muslim.

[As for] your Muslim mother, then it is not permissible for her to remain with him because he is a disbeliever; unless he repents to Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall) and returns to [practicing] his religion – [in which case] extend yourself to him.

As for him remaining unrepentant and upon his apostasy and disbelief, then it is obligatory upon you to detest him for the Sake of Allaah (‘Azza wa Jall).

However, if he should have a need for you, then be good and kind to him – but do not love him, rather, be good and kind to him due to the [ties of] relation between you and him.


Translation originally published on 30 September, 2015

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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