Effects of birth out of wedlock

Effects of birth out of wedlock  

is rocketing. 234 674 cases of birth out of wedlock those were recorded between 2006 and 2010 has been revealed by the National Registration Department (NRD). NRD director-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim said 52,982 children of the 510,462 births registered were born out of wedlock in 2010 compare to 38,258 out of the 472,983 registered births out of wedlock births in 2006[1]. This situation is very alarming because there are many negative effects of birth out of wedlock to the social.

            Birth out of wedlock can cause family break up[2]  and setbacks to the family. Some of the family members cannot accept the baby who is born out of wedlock because they feel that the baby will bring shame for the family. As a result, they would chase out the mother and the baby from the family and consequently breaking up the family institution. Wedlock can also cause two families which are the families of the illegitimate child’s parents to fight.[3] If the parent’s of the illegitimate child are still teenager and not working, the families of the illegitimate child’s parents are responsible to support the child. The family of the child’s father maybe does not want to be responsible on to the child and will eventually lead to argument with the family of the child’s mother. Therefore, as Muslims we must prevent illegal sex as it cause immense problems to the family. Al-Quran stated that in surah Al-Isra’ verse 32 “And not to come near zina: indeed, it is abomination and an evil way.”[4]

            The next effect of this matter is that the child who is born out of wedlock together with the mother will distance and isolate themselves from the society. The society thoughts would cause them to have kind of psychological problem. They will experience many insults and disdains from the people surrounding. They become ashamed to face the society and feel not needed in the community. Eventually, they become lonely and if they do not have strong faith in Allah they possibly might commit suicide as a result of the pressure from the society. Some of the people who involved in adultery get contagious and fatal disease such as AIDS and syphilis. This disease can also affect the baby. This incurable disease can also become the factor that making the child and mother distance themselves from the society to avoid other people from getting the diseases[5].  So, as educated citizens and Muslims, we should help and guide them to prevent them from making unwise decision instead of insult them and support the illegitimate children and their mothers who are HIV positive.

            The children’s attitude that was born from adultery towards the society might be affected[6] is also one of the consequences. They may hold grudge towards the society as they have to go through insult and humiliation from the people surrounding. The children then will involve in crime to show their dissatisfaction to the community. For instance, they may involve with drug addict, illegal racing, killing and et cetera. They will also stop trusting people surrounding as there are so many people who insult them instead of support them. They feel that all people are same judging people without any investigation about what truly happen behind it. This condition is also contributed when people is stick to the negative stereotype. A good example is like in Malaysia, majority of the society believe that all illegitimate children have bad characteristics and negative behaviors. This is very dangerous but we always overlook this matter and keep blaming them. The only way to prevent this is by giving the children supports.

Last but not least, illegitimate children will not respect their parents as they think that all their misery is caused by their parents. They are looked down by some people for the sins they did not do which increase their feeling of hatred towards their parent. In their mind, they think that why they must respect someone who made their life in despair. However, Muslims must respect their parents despite of bad deeds they have done as in Al-Quran surah Al-Ahqaf verse 15 “and we have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says: my lord! Grant me that I may give thanks for thy favor which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to thee, and surely I am of those who submit”[7]. We are responsible to educate the unlawful children so that they respect their parents.  

            As a conclusion, birth out of wedlock must be prevented as prevention is better than cure. Otherwise, many more negative effects will arise.  All Muslims are responsible to solve adultery problems because Allah always tell us to enjoining the good and forbidding the sinful deeds as in the hadith ‘Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Whoever amongst you sees an evil, he must change it with his hand; if he is  unable to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is unable to do so, then with his heart; and that is the weakest form of Faith"[Muslim][8].  Allah will send down torment to us if we do not solve the birth out of wedlock problem.

[1] http://www.klik4malaysia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11819%3Amalaysia-births-out-of-wedlock-alarming&catid=77%3Adaily-news&Itemid=196&lang=en accessed on 9 April 2011.

[2] Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam, Percetakan Zafar Sdn. Bhd. , 1995, page 149

[3] http://utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2010&dt=0820&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_03.htm accessed on 9 April 2011

[4] Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam, Percetakan Zafar Sdn. Bhd. , 1995, page 149

[5] http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/pdfs/social%20development/vol9no2/jsda009002004.pdf accessed on 25 April 2011

[6] Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam, Percetakan Zafar Sdn. Bhd. , 1995, page 149