(Q&A) Dealing With A Non-Practicing Father, and Can He Be A Walī For Marriage — Shaykh ‘Alī al-Ḥudhayfī al-‘Adanī
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Question:
My father engages in Major Sins (including visiting magicians and soothsayers) and he is not serious as it relates to practicing the religion. He prays sometimes, but not always. How should I deal with him, and when I’m ready to marry can he be my Walī (Guardian)?
Answer of Shaykh Abū ‘Ammār ‘Alī al-Ḥudhayfī al-‘Adanī –may Allāh preserve him–:
Wa ʿalaykum as-Salām wa raḥmatullāh wa barakātuh. Welcome!
As it relates to the sister, her obeying her father and her being dutiful to him; then this is something required even if he’s a disbeliever or polytheist. She must be obedient and treat him with goodness, because he’s her father. And the father has a right over the child.
Allāh – The Blessed and Exalted – said:
وَإِن جَـٰهَدَاكَ عَلَىٰٓ أَن تُشْرِكَ بِى مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌۭ فَلَا تُطِعْهُمَا ۖ وَصَاحِبْهُمَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا مَعْرُوفًۭا
But if they (both) strive with you to make you join in worship with Me others that of which you have no knowledge, then obey them not; but behave with them in the world kindly. [Sūrah Luqmān, Āyah 15]
So, this is as it relates to the right of the father in dealing with him. As for what is related to the matter of him being a Walī (Guardian) over her despite what arises from him (of evil actions mentioned in the question); if her father is a Fāsiq (rebellious open sinner), an ʿĀsy (disobedient one) — we say — the guardianship, there’s differing among the scholars; is guardianship lost due to Fisq (open disobedience to Allāh) or is it not lost.
However, the issue of him going to the magicians and he does the likes of these things, and he speaks ill of the religion and other than that. Then, I advise her that she shouldn’t take him as her guardian. Rather she should look to one of her brothers, and she takes him as her guardian for marriage. And if she has no brothers (or no Muslim brothers) then she goes to the nearest Islāmic Centre (upon the Sunnah) and the admin will be her guardian as it relates to the marriage contract.
As for him, speaking against the religion, going to the magicians and soothsayers, then he loses guardianship (over her) as a result of that. And Allāh, the Exalted, knows best.
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Question on 14 Rabī‘ ath-Thānī 1447 (هـ) • 6 October 2025 (مـ)
Translation: MiU Editorial
