TREATMENT OF NON-MUSLIM RELATIVES

(A Qur‘ānic study in the light of the Sunnah)

Dr Muhsin al-Khalidi*

This paper discusses the maintenance of blood relationship with a kāfirah, and by kāfirah is meant a non-Muslim woman whether she is a kitābiyyah or an idolatress. The reason for writing on this subject is the phenomenon of a number of Muslim children born to non-Muslim mothers. This highlights the glorious image of Islam of maintaining blood relation even with a non-Muslim relative. Some of the ways in which a kāfirah can be kindly treated is to earmark a part of the inheritance for her in the will, and to treat her with love and affection in the hope of winning her to Islam. The children of non-Muslim parents are required by law to treat them well even if they openly display their kufr.

This does not contradict muwālāt, for silat al-rahim is different from muwālāt: for silat al-rahim can be for both Muslims and non-Muslims, but muwālāt is for Muslims alone.

The paper has shown that silat al-rahim helps the kāfir and his offspring in this world by protecting them from being humiliated. But it will not help them in the hereafter. 

(*) National al-Najāh University (Palestine), Faculty of Islamic Law, Department of Usul al-Din.

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