A child born after seven or eight months have passed has established lineage

Question

Zayd used to live in Bombay. When Zayd came home, 7–8 months after Zayd’s arrival a child was born to his wife. Zayd became suspicious; when he inquired about it, Hinda named her brother-in-law (her husband’s brother), whereas at first she had named the husband himself; but when the people of the biradari (kinship community) put pressure on her, she began to name the brother-in-law. So whose child is this? Is there a disagreement between Deobandis and Barelvis in this?

Answer

A child born upon the completion of six months from the marriage has, according to the Sharia, an established lineage; it is not permissible to call it illegitimate. And since the child was born after seven or eight months, no evil suspicion should be entertained about it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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