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Ruling on residing with an adulterous father

Question

I am 25 years old and I reside with my father in the same house. He wants to bring women in order to commit adultery with them and I cannot prevent him. What should I do? Noting that he is more than 55 years old and cannot live alone due to sickness, should I leave him?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We have enjoined upon man [care] for his parents. His mother carried him, [increasing her] in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the [final] destination. But if they endeavor to make you associate with Me that of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them but accompany them in [this] world with appropriate kindness and follow the way of those who turn back to Me [in repentance]. Then to Me will be your return, and I will inform you about what you used to do.} [Quran 31: 14-15]

Even if one’s parents are polytheists, they are entitled to dutifulness and kindness from their children. When polytheism does not cause them to lose their rights, then grave major sins, such as adultery and drinking wine, will not.

Nevertheless, a Muslim has to know that obeying Allaah The Almighty, Who creates, provides with sustenance, gives life and causes death, is greater than anything else. When there is a command from Allaah The Almighty, all contradicting commands are null and void. Anas  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “A person who is a disobedient to Allaah must not be obeyed.” [Ahmad]

Consequently, you should be kind to your father but without residing with him. Otherwise, you will be exposing your religious nature to great danger because the devil circulates the human’s body just like his blood does, and a person who comes near unlawful things will be likely to commit them.

You are required to remind your father of Allaah The Almighty and His immediate punishment. If you know someone who can influence your father, you should seek his help. You should not give up offering him advice through all means. You should try to persuade him to marry a righteous woman who may help him to maintain his chastity and refrain from committing immorality.

Allaah Knows best.

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