Tragedy of a woman who has become Muslim, but she has two children and their father is Hindu

Question

Praise be to Allah.

First of all, we would like to congratulate our sister for embracing
Islam, which is the joy for which wealth and souls would be sacrificed, for all the
blessing of Islam makes all grief and distress fade into insignificance.

The sister says that she loves a Muslim man. We say: it is not
appropriate for a Muslim woman to fall into the trap of nonsensical emotions and forbidden
relationships into which others fall. The love which people hear about and read about is
one of the dazzling tricks of the Shaytaan, and it usually happens with regard to things
that Allaah has forbidden. If a man finds that he likes a girl, the only option he has is
to ask her guardian (walee) for permission to marry her.

The mans mothers comment that new Muslims cannot be good
Muslims is false. Were the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) anything but new
Muslims, given that prior to their Islam they had been believers in Shirk? Does any
Muslim have any doubts about their commitment to religion and their character? Moreover,
we see that many new Muslims are many times better than many (born) Muslims! Just because
a Muslim is new does not mean that he will never be good, and just because a Muslim is
born in Islam does not mean that he is good. What counts is Taqwa (piety, awareness of
Allaah) and righteous deeds, as well as the length of time one has been in Islam and has
been worshipping Allaah.

There is no reason why knowledge of the man’s marriage should not be
withheld from his parents, especially since this is in the interests of the sister and
there are so few people who can help her to overcome her difficulties. It is the woman who
needs a walee according to shareeah, not the man. However, we would prefer that he
wins his familys approval by convincing them, because this is in their best
interests, benefits which may be lost if they find out that their son concealed his
marriage from them.

The fact that the husband says he wants to call the children to Islam is
good. We ask Allaah to help him to achieve this. The fact that the Hindu father is evil is
sufficient reason for him not to make an open display of his calling the children to
Islam, if that could lead to this kaafir taking the children away by going to the kaafir
courts. You have to act with wisdom in this case.

The woman who is asking this question should not arrange her own
marriage even if she has been previously married, because shareeah does not permit
this. If she does not have a walee as required by shareeah, then her walee may be
the qaadi (judge) or whoever is in charge of the Muslim affairs in her country, such as
the head of the Islamic centre or his deputy.

They especially the sister have to seek the help of Allaah
in dealing with these problems which are giving her sleepless nights. Everyone should know
that whoever puts his trust in Allaah, Allaah will show him a way out. She has to make
duaa sincerely, and he has to try as hard as he can to advise his family and
change their views about new Muslims by showing them real examples of people who are the
opposite of what they think. With regard to the tragedy caused by the former husband, we
advise her again not to make an open display of her calling the children to Islam, lest
that should cause the father to do something that will have bad consequences. If they feel
suspicious about his intentions, there is no harm in calling the police to do whatever is
necessary with regard to him.

If getting married means that the sister will lose her right to custody
of her children, we advise her not to get married now, for fear that these two souls may
end up in Hell in the Hereafter unless she fears that she herself may commit some
immoral action, in which case she should marry the Muslim man whom she has told us about,
with witnesses and a walee as we have stated above. Publicizing the marriage is sunnah,
although it does not have to be announced officially and in writing. But this sister has
to live in a protective Muslim environment and those people will have to know about her
marriage lest she bring upon herself gossip about her honour. If it will be better for her
to leave the place where her ex-husband lives and move to another place where she can be
free, have custody of her children and be able to marry a believing Muslim man who will
protect her and her children, then she should do that.

She has to make duaa and turn to Allaah to relieve her
distress and grief. We pray that Allaah will give her the strength to do that which He
loves and which pleases Him.

And Allaah knows best.