Do children belong to their father and must they follow him in everything, including their nationality?

The child's affiliation is summarized in four aspects:

1. Lineage Aspect: The child must be attributed solely to his father in all official documents and in all resultant legal rulings, based on the Almighty's saying: ﴿Call them by [the names of] their fathers﴾, and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) prohibition of claiming lineage to anyone other than one's father.

2. Kinship and Womb Aspect (for identification): It is permissible to attribute the child to his mother and her people (his maternal uncles) for identification purposes, while still recognizing his lineage to his father. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to attribute his daughter's children to himself, and Muslims attribute some individuals to their mothers for identification.

3. Religious Aspect: The newborn follows the better of his two parents in religion. If one parent is Muslim and the other is a disbeliever, the child follows the Muslim parent, prioritizing the aspect of Islam and the innate disposition upon which he was born.

4. Attribution to a Country Aspect: It is permissible to attribute a person to a country other than his father's, such as his mother's country, based on relationships like birth, upbringing, or residency. Similarly, the nationality document is a regulatory matter that allows the child to acquire his mother's nationality without compromising his legal lineage to his father in documents.