Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “He who (falsely) attributes his fatherhood to anyone besides his real father, knowing that he is not his father, will be forbidden to enter Jannah (Paradise).” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6766 and Muslim no. 63]
Abu Hurairah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Do not turn away from your fathers, for he who turns away from his father will be guilty of committing an act of Kufr (disbelief).” [Al-Bukhaari no. 6768 and Muslim no. 62]
Abu Dharr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: “If somebody claims to be the son of anyone other than his real father knowingly, he but disbelieves in Allaah, and if somebody claims to belong to some folk to whom he does not belong, let such a person take his place in the (Hell) Fire.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 3508 and Muslim no. 61]
Commentary, Lessons and Benefits
- Every person must attribute himself to his real family, his father, his grandfather, his great-grandfather, and the like. It is not permissible for him to attribute himself to anyone other than his father while he knows that he is not his father.
For example, if his father is from a certain tribe and he perceives that this tribe is inferior to another tribe, he begins attributing himself to a tribe of higher status in order to remove the perceived shame of his own tribe from himself. Then this – we seek Allaah’s forgiveness – is cursed upon with the Curse of Allaah, the Angels, and all people. Allaah will not accept any compensation from him on the Day of Judgment.
However, if a person attributes himself to his grandfather and great-grandfather who are well-known and recognized without disowning his father, then there is no harm in this. For instance, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “I am the Prophet, and there is no lie about it; I am the son of ‘Abdul Muttalib”, although he was Muhammad, the son of ‘Abdullaah, the son of ‘Abdul Muttalib.
‘Abdul Muttalib was his grandfather, but the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned him during the Battle of Hunayn because ‘Abdul-Muttalib was more renowned than his father ‘Abdullaah, and he held a higher status among the Quraish. Therefore, he said, “I am the son of ‘Abdul Muttalib,” but it is known that he was Muhammad, the son of ‘Abdullaah, and he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did not disown his father.
Likewise, people may often trace their lineages to the name of their tribes such as Ahmad Ibn Taymiyah, and the like, which refers to tribal affiliation. However, the severe warning (in the Ahadeeth above) applies to those who claim lineage from someone other than their father out of dissatisfaction with their own lineage, and to elevate their status by affiliating with another lineage. This is the one who is cursed, and we seek Allaah’s Refuge.
There are also those who do this for worldly benefits, claiming affiliation with their uncles instead of their fathers for worldly gains. This is like some people today who hold dual identities and claim affiliation with their uncles or maternal uncles to gain some worldly benefit. This is also forbidden and not permissible.
Those who are in such a situation must rectify their affiliations and identity documents, and not leave them as they are. Whoever fears Allaah, He will make a way for him out of every difficulty and provide for him from sources he could never have imagined. And Allaah is the guide to the right path. [End quote of Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) –Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]
- Islam has placed great importance (laid emphasis) on the matter of lineage. It commands preservation and safeguarding of lineage. It has also established laws to prevent any confusion in lineage. One of these laws is the prohibition of a person claiming lineage to someone other than his true father.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) warned those who attribute themselves to someone other than their true father, taking another person as one’s father while knowing that he is not their real father. The warning is specifically restricted to those who knowingly do this because the sin is only established on the one who has the knowledge (of one’s correct lineage) and deliberately acts (against it). These two conditions should be there (knowledge and to be done on purpose).
It was said that this condition was put in place because the knowledge of true lineage can sometimes be lost over generations, making it difficult to ascertain true lineage. There may be hidden discrepancies in one’s lineage from the women’s side too, of which one might be unaware.
Such disgraceful behavior of affiliating to other than one’s own lineage is typically committed by those who are either ignorant or arrogant, or those who despise their father’s lowly status, seeing their affiliation to him as a disgrace and a defect. The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informed us that entering Paradise is forbidden for such a person.
- The Hadeeth of Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) refers to an incident recorded by Muslim and narrated by Abu ‘Uthmaan an-Nahdi who said that when Ziyad was claimed – i.e., claimed by Mu’awiyah to be attributed to Abu Sufyan– “I met Abu Bakra and said: ‘What is this that you have done? I heard Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas say: “He who (falsely) attributes his ancestry to anyone besides his real father, knowing that he is not his father, will be forbidden to enter Jannah (Paradise).”
Abu ‘Uthmaan criticized Abu Bakra because Ziyad was his maternal brother, and Ziyad had claimed his lineage to Abu Sufyan ibn Harb, which Abu Bakra disapproved of.
- This Hadeeth emphasizes the prohibition and the warning against claiming lineage from someone other than one’s true father. It also indicates that attributing oneself to people with whom one has no true lineage connection is a cause of punishment and deprivation from Paradise. [End quote from: https://dorar.net/hadith/sharh/12800]
- The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) described the act of attributing to other than one’s own lineage as Kufr (disbelief). However, this Kufr does not refer to the type of Kufr that condemns a person to Hell eternally; rather, it refers to Kufr of ingratitude. This is because the person denies the rights of his father upon him, and in doing so he does what resembles the actions of the people of Kufr – but if he considers his act as permissible (lawful), then he has left the fold of Islam.
It is called Kufr to serve as a severe warning that may deter people from such actions, and to magnify the gravity of the offense. Such a person may also be forgiven if he repents, thus lifting away his punishment.
- Before Islam, the Arabs did not find it objectionable for a man to adopt someone else’s son and attribute him to oneself. This practice continued into the early period of Islam until Allaah revealed the verse in Surat Al-Ahzaab (33:4):
وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَاءَكُمْ أَبْنَاءَكُمْ
“…Nor has He made your adopted sons your real sons…”
And He (Ta’ala) revealed the verse in Surat Al-Ahzaab (33:5):
ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ هُوَ أَقْسَطُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ۚ
“Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers, that is more just with Allaah.”
These verses commanded attributing the son to his true father and forbade attributing him to anyone else.
- The Hadeeth illustrates the usage of the term Kufr for a sin, indicating that such actions contradict the perfection of Eeman (and not the complete Eeman).” [End quote from: https://dorar.net/hadith/sharh/7686]
Sources:
Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen
Dorar.net
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