Is it permissible for me to address my husband's father as "my father" (أبي) and his mother as "my dear mother" (أمَيْمَتي) with the intention of showing affection and tenderness of hearts, or does this contradict the Almighty's saying: "Call them by [the names of] their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah"?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
There is no impediment for a Muslim to say "Ya Abtah" (O my father) to an elder who is not a relative, if it is done as a form of respect and endearment. This falls under the command to "speak to people good words," and the prohibition only applies to a person attributing themselves to someone other than their true father, as a way of disavowing their real lineage.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/75587
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 75587
- 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