What is the ruling on one who claims a father other than his own and obtains the nationality of a country other than his own for the sake of interests?
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The questioner : Your Eminence,The Shaykh : There is a matter that is happening frequently now, especially among the Gulf states. A person here obtains another nationality in one of the Gulf states, but not under his own name or his father's name; rather, he is attached to his uncle as one of his children, or to his brother, or to his maternal uncle, or to one of his relatives. By doing so, he obtains that nationality and the salaries and other benefits that come with it, even though he has a nationality and his documents here, and he has no problem except only obtaining some benefits. It is not hidden from your esteemed knowledge the danger of claiming a father other than one's own and the severe prohibition mentioned in that regard. What is the ruling on this action?
The Shaykh : This action is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to claim a father other than his own, because lying results from it, inheritance results from it, prohibition of marriage results from it, and everything that results from lineage results from it. For this reason, the texts came with warnings for one who claims a father other than his own. It is obligatory for the person to return to the truth in this matter and to tear up the nationality that is not genuine. This is what is obligatory upon him.
And I am amazed that a person would proceed with this forbidden action for the sake of greed for this world. Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Isra 17:18] So I hope you will convey to this brother that it is obligatory for him to tear up the nationality that is not genuine, and may Allah pardon what has passed. As for the money he took with this nationality, Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Baqarah 2:275] He says this regarding the consumer of usury, and what is less than that is even more so. But it is obligatory for him to destroy the nationality that is not a right.
The questioner : Okay, Shaykh, and if the effects of prohibition of marriage and inheritance do not result from it?
The Shaykh : Legally, they do result from it. I mean, if I say, for example, "I claimed my uncle as my father," then his children become what? They become my brothers. This is necessary and unavoidable.
The questioner : But he says, meaning: the people know the truth, for example?
The Shaykh : If they know the truth now, they may not know it in the future. And it is a lie, a lie, and one of the major sins. How can a person persist in something that is a lie and one of the major sins?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : The one after it.
The Shaykh : This action is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to claim a father other than his own, because lying results from it, inheritance results from it, prohibition of marriage results from it, and everything that results from lineage results from it. For this reason, the texts came with warnings for one who claims a father other than his own. It is obligatory for the person to return to the truth in this matter and to tear up the nationality that is not genuine. This is what is obligatory upon him.
And I am amazed that a person would proceed with this forbidden action for the sake of greed for this world. 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 : Okay, Shaykh, and if the effects of prohibition of marriage and inheritance do not result from it?
The Shaykh : Legally, they do result from it. I mean, if I say, for example, "I claimed my uncle as my father," then his children become what? They become my brothers. This is necessary and unavoidable.
The questioner : But he says, meaning: the people know the truth, for example?
The Shaykh : If they know the truth now, they may not know it in the future. And it is a lie, a lie, and one of the major sins. How can a person persist in something that is a lie and one of the major sins?
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : The one after it.