What are the rights of a child born out of wedlock, and is it permissible to treat them differently from children born within a legitimate marriage?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The child of zina (fornication/adultery) is one whose mother gives birth to him as a result of committing indecency. His lineage is established only through his mother, and he inherits from her. His lineage is not established through the fornicator/adulterer according to the majority of jurists. He is a Muslim if born to a Muslim mother, and he has the rights and obligations of Muslims. It is not permissible to punish him for a crime he did not commit, nor is it permissible to unjustly differentiate between him and legitimate children.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/33529
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 33529
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy