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If a couple begets a child illegitimately, what is to be done?

In a state in which Islamic law is applied, the pregnancy of an unmarried woman is an undeniable evidence of adultery [unless a case of rape has earlier been reported by the woman] which is punishable in Islam. The punishment is the same for both man and woman. No blame is attached to the child as the result of his parents' sin. Any person who is guilty of fornication or adultery should repent his or her sin and pray to Allah to forgive him or her. An order that applies to all sins is that the perpetrator should not publicize his action. This also applies in this case. If an adulterer confesses to his guilt or if four witnesses testify to having seen him doing it, the punishment described by Islam is enforceable. However, if the couple get married when the pregnancy becomes evident, and try to keep their affair secret, they do well, especially if they repent having committed this sin. They may hope to be forgiven by Allah. If the father admits that the child is his own, his admission is accepted and he is not questioned with regard to the time of pregnancy and whether it was a legitimate one or not.

• Illness preventing a good action

If a person is in the habit of doing something good and finds his illness preventing him from continuing with it, Allah credits him with the reward for that habitual good action as if he had performed it. The Prophet says: "Whoever falls ill will be credited with what he used to do when healthy ".

• Imams: the Four Imams

In chronological order are:

— Imam Malik ibn Anas lived in Madinah most of his life. His grandfather was a companion of the Prophet.

— Imam Abu Hanifah was called Al-Nu'man ibn Thabit. He was of Persian origin, but lived in Iraq.

— Imam El-Shaf'ie was born in Ghaza and traveled when still a young boy to Madinah where he studied under Imam Malik. He also traveled to Iraq where he met the leading scholars of the Hanafi school of though such as Imam Abu Yousuf. He then traveled to Egypt where he spent the last five years of his life.

— The Hanbali school of thought was founded by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal, who lived mostly in Baghdad. He was a close friend of Imam El Shaf'ie. Both learned from each other, although Imam Ahmad, the younger scholar, was keen to maintain this close relationship which lasted until El-Shaf'ie left Baghdad for Egypt.

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