What is the Ruling of Obeying my Non-Muslim Father, and Is His Sister Mahram to Me?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

My father is a non-Muslim, and my mother is a Muslim; as we know, this marriage is not permissible, so what’s the ruling on me? Is it fard to obey him? Is my father’s sister Mahram to me in this case?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

This must be difficult to realize after maturity, knowing your father has a different religion than you. However, you are not at fault or sinful, and in fact, you are rewarded continuously for this spiritual struggle you have been tested with.

It is still obligatory to obey your father in non-religious matters and matters that will not contradict your way of Islamic life. However, the key will be compromising your way of life, not against the Sharia, while respecting your father with wisdom and love.

Paternal Non-Muslim Aunt

She is not your mahram. However, you should respect her and conduct yourself as one. A Mahram is with whom marriage is permanently unlawful, and this permanent prohibition of marriage is established in three ways: The relationship of lineage, the relationship through breastfeeding, and the relationship through marriage.

Dua

Ask Allah after your daily prayers and during the last third of the night to facilitate patience, and ease, and accept your differences. It may take time, but I am sure he will continue to love you and respect your choices in life. Read the Quran every day with the meaning and learn your obligations as a Muslim.

I pray that you can reconcile with him with ease and good character without undue hardship to either, and he comes to understand you and embrace Islam.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

Related 

• Who is Mahram – SeekersGuidance
• Will All Believers and Their Non-Muslim Parents Be Forgiven? (seekers.flywheelstaging.com)

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.