A Wife Claims Her Ten-Year-Old Son Is from Her Stepson

Question

Zayd has a son from the womb of his wife Zaynab, who is about ten years old. Now Zaynab tells her husband Zayd that this boy is from the seed of his son Khalid (Khalid is Zaynab’s stepson). Zayd asked his son, but he denied it on oath, saying that his stepmother is lying. Khalid is a religious man. What is the ruling of the Shari‘a in such a case? Has Zaynab become haram for Zayd or not?

Answer

If, in the view of Zaynab’s husband, Zaynab is lying in this confession of hers, then she has not become haram for her husband. Moreover, for ten years she continuously maintained relations, and in such a long period she never disclosed this; so now, in this confession of hers, she herself is under suspicion according to the Shari‘a.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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