How to deal with a sister who apostated from Islam

5-7-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

I have step-sister from my father. she went with her mam when my dad divorced her (mam). unfortunately, my step mother was from a non-muslim family and returned to kufr,including my step-sister. Now the step sister married to anon muslim and gave birth.However, she wants to proceed relations with family,including me.but Idon't feel confertable to see herhaving returned to kufr,especially after I tried alot to convince her about Islam? What did U advise me with regard to my relations with her? how should I treat her?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

If a relative apostates [or commits an act that takes him out of the fold of Islam], then this does not prevent one from keeping ties with him. This is because it is confirmed that Asmaa' Bint Abi Bakr said: “My mother came to visit me while she was a polytheist at the time of the Prophet so I asked him [the Prophet]: “My mother came wishing that I will be kind to her as her daughter, shall I keep ties with her? He said: “Yes, be dutiful to your mother.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] For more details, see Fatwa 94482.

Therefore, you should keep ties with your sister provided you are not harmed in your religion and your worldly matters. However, you should endeavour to call her to return to Islam, and you should not despair from doing so.

Among the best means of Da’wah (calling people to Islam) is to seek the help of Allaah, be kind to the person one calls, and supplicate Allaah earnestly and not be in a hurry to get the result.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 87672.

Allaah Knows best.