What is the relationship between a man and his sister’s son from fornication?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner says: I was a Christian, then I embraced Islam. Five years ago, my sister’s son embraced Islam, but he is a child of fornication. The question is: What is our relationship according to the Shari'ah? And am I considered his uncle?

The Shaykh:
Yes, please repeat the question.

The questioner:
He says: I was a Christian, then I embraced Islam. Five years ago, my sister’s son embraced Islam, but he is a child of fornication. The question is: What is our relationship according to the Shari'ah, and am I considered his uncle?

The Shaykh:
He is his maternal uncle. That is, your sister’s son is your maternal nephew, not your nephew through your father. Yes, you are his maternal uncle by blood, because he is your sister’s son. And praise be to Allah, if he has embraced Islam, the fact that he is a child of fornication does not harm him. If he has embraced Islam, the fact that he is a child of fornication does not harm him. The criterion is his deed.