The ruling on a man claiming descent from someone other than his father in order to obtain citizenship or other benefits
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There is a matter that is happening frequently now, especially among the Gulf states. A person from one of these countries goes and obtains another citizenship from one of the Gulf states, but not under his own name or his father’s name; rather, he is attributed to his uncle as one of his sons, or to his maternal uncle, or to one of his relatives. By doing so, he obtains that citizenship and all the salaries and other benefits that come with it, even though he already has a citizenship and his documents here, and he has no problem except that he does this to obtain some material benefits. It is not hidden from your eminence the severity of claiming descent from someone other than one’s father and the severe prohibition mentioned in that regard. What is the ruling on this action?
This action is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to claim descent from someone other than his father; because it leads to lying, it leads to inheritance, it leads to prohibitions of marriage, and it leads to everything that follows from lineage. For this reason, the texts came with warnings against one who claims descent from someone other than his father, and this action is also among the major sins; in fact, it combines two major sins: lying to consume wealth by falsehood, and claiming descent from someone other than one’s father.
It is obligatory for a person to return to the truth in this matter and to tear up the citizenship that is not genuine. This is his obligation. I am amazed that a person would commit this forbidden action for the sake of greed for this world.And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Isra:18] So I hope you will convey to this brother that it is obligatory for him to tear up this contract, which is not genuine, and may Allah pardon what has passed. As for the money he took through this contract, Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Baqarah:275] This is said regarding the one who consumes riba, and those below him in degree are even more so, but it is obligatory for him to destroy the contract that is not a right.
The questioner: O Shaykh! What if it does not have effects in terms of marriage prohibitions and inheritance?The Shaykh: Legally, it does have effects.For example: If you claim descent from my uncle as if he were your father, his sons become your brothers. This is necessary and it must be so.
The questioner: But he says: People now may know the truth?The Shaykh: If they know the truth now, they will not know it in the future. Moreover, it is a lie and among the major sins. How can a person persist in something that is a lie and among the major sins?
This action is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to claim descent from someone other than his father; because it leads to lying, it leads to inheritance, it leads to prohibitions of marriage, and it leads to everything that follows from lineage. For this reason, the texts came with warnings against one who claims descent from someone other than his father, and this action is also among the major sins; in fact, it combines two major sins: lying to consume wealth by falsehood, and claiming descent from someone other than one’s father.
It is obligatory for a person to return to the truth in this matter and to tear up the citizenship that is not genuine. This is his obligation. I am amazed that a person would commit this forbidden action for the sake of greed for this world.And Allah the Exalted said:
Whoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend. Then We have made for him Hell, which he will [enter to] burn, censured and banished.
مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُ لِمَنْ نُرِيدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلاهَا مَذْمُوماً مَدْحُوراًSo whoever has received an admonition from his Lord and desists may have what is past, and his affair rests with Allah
فَمَنْ جَاءَهُ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَانْتَهَى فَلَهُ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُ إِلَى اللَّهِThe questioner: O Shaykh! What if it does not have effects in terms of marriage prohibitions and inheritance?The Shaykh: Legally, it does have effects.For example: If you claim descent from my uncle as if he were your father, his sons become your brothers. This is necessary and it must be so.
The questioner: But he says: People now may know the truth?The Shaykh: If they know the truth now, they will not know it in the future. Moreover, it is a lie and among the major sins. How can a person persist in something that is a lie and among the major sins?