Question
If a child is born to a sister out of wedlock, is it inappropriate to go visit the sister and send gifts for the child (because although the mother did wrong, the child is sinless)?
Answered by: Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.
It is definitely inappropriate to visit this sister to congratulate her on the birth since it was conceived in such an unlawful way. Treating her the same as other mothers who have conceived in the lawful way would mean she is being respected and honored for her unlawful act. It is not permissible to respect and honor a transgressor or innovator, and more conclusively one who commits an act openly and all find out about it. Hence, it would not be permissible to even send a gift for the baby as that is an expression of happiness at the birth. The responsibility of those associated to this sister is of enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong (amr bi ‘l-ma’ruf wa ‘l-nahy ‘an al-munkar).
Indeed the baby is not sinful, but that can not be made an excuse to buy gifts or visit them since the baby does not even understand anything and it would seem as if the mother is being honored. Yes, in the case of necessity, it is virtuous to help any person in need.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf