Rulings Concerning a Fornicatress and a Child Born of Zina

Question

Owing to some upheaval, the adult daughter of a Muslim fell captive into the hands of an unbeliever, to the extent that children of the unbeliever were born from this Muslim woman. Then, by the command of the Lord Who does whatever He wills, she was freed from the unbeliever’s captivity, and those children who were born from the unbeliever’s seed came with this woman to the Muslims. Since these children are still minors, it needs to be asked: will these children become Muslims by following their mother or not?

Answer

These children are Muslims; the funeral prayer will be performed over them, unless on growing up they choose disbelief — Allah protect us! Their protection and upbringing is incumbent on the mother. Killing these children is haram. On the mother’s death these children will be entitled to inheritance. Where there is a firash (a marriage bed)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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