Title: If a Muslim Woman is Guilty of Fornication with a non-Muslim Man… Question: My friend's daughter got pregnant by non-Muslim. Her father has come to know only recently. the lady is 7 month pregnant. Her father is confused what to do. My questions are: If the man converts to Islam, is it allowed to get them married? Can father kill his daughter for the sin she committed? They are living in a non-Muslim country where Shari`ah is not applicable. Can the father kill his daughter and the baby inside her (7 months old) or maybe poison them? if he kill her can he bury her according to Muslim rites? If her father can't do the above, what to do to her daughter? Please treat this urgent and reply to this email. Anonymous Philippine Answer: I urge everyone involved in this situation to calm down, even in the face of the great stress and tragedy that they are made to suffer. This already sad situation can potentially spin completely out of control and become a major tragedy. What the young lady did, getting pregnant out of wedlock, is a big sin indeed. However, there can be reasons to her actions no matter how irresponsible and short sighted they may be. This should be relentlessly investigated, with compassion and understanding. There are innumerable answers which I could not even begin to get into. But, someone should take the time and find out what went wrong for the sake of the future of the daughter, her child and by extension all else whom are related. This situation is solvable with some deep thought, compassion, common sense and the help of God. Again, please, I implore everyone not to make things worse. Asking for the man to become a Muslim is the least of the problems here. If he were willing to marry the young lady then why would he have engaged in such an act without the commitment of marriage? His moral consciousness may not be high enough to be a good Muslim. So what would be the difference in his conversion? A title change? Besides, no one can force him to accept Islam nor can anyone ask him to convert for the sake of marriage. Forcing the two to get married because of the child, in my opinion, is not always the best idea. Nevertheless, if the man is willing to marry the girl, even without converting to Islam, then, under the circumstances, it should be allowed, as this may provide the woman with an opportunity to save herself from further stress and social dilemma. The Shari`ah absolutely forbids the father from killing the daughter. She will be punished by God for her sins, if she does not sincerely repent for her sins while she still has the time for it. Her father needs to concentrate his energies and mind in how to resolve this problem not in killing his daughter. As I said, he would make things worse if he committed such an act. Not only would he would end up in jail and destroy his and the rest of his family's life, but would also be committing a great sin - of murder - in the eyes of God. As I have stated above, killing the daughter, no matter what the method, is a sin. What's worse is the consideration to kill the innocent child that is in the womb of the mother. If her father is an abiding Muslim then he should realize the dangerous consequences - from the perspective of this life as well as from that of the hereafter - of his considered action of taking a life, without having the legal authority to do so. As is clear from the above, the father is not allowed to do any killing mentioned. First, he must calm down and pray to God for guidance to help him with this tremendous task ahead of him. He should ask for the strength to be able to deal justly, correctly and mercifully in this situation. Also, professional counseling may help. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking out a psychologist's or psychiatrist's help who share your moral/religious values. He should accept the present conditions, because what is done is done and that is the reality he must face. What he should do is concentrate on how he can make things better from here on. He should, as hard as it may be, help his daughter in realizing her sin and in seeking forgiveness from God. She may never need him more than she does at this moment; this is the ultimate test of his fatherhood. I pray he succeeds. I can only empathize with those in this situation. Truly, it is distressing. But even in this situation one should remember God and not falter from His path. The answers are not in death. The answers are in compassion, benevolence and repentance. May the Almighty guide us all unto the righteous path. I hope I have clarified the issue God knows best Ronnie Hassan February 18, 2003