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Fatwa CenterWhat to do if one sees a father unprotective of his child
Question
This thought keeps bothering me, so maybe you can give me some clarity. As I was going to a store, I saw a man begging on the side of the street. I got a clearer view of him and noticed that he had a baby in a stroller a few feet away from where he was collecting money from cars. The thought of the baby being in the heat and him not even being close to where she was really, really bothered me. Anyway, I parked and went into the store, but I could not stop thinking about it. I thought to maybe even call the police so that they could at least take them off the street into a nearby shelter. I was also going to give whatever cash I had to him as well. In any case, the baby being out there really made me feel that I had to do something. In this country though calling the police in order to help out a child and parent in need could sometimes result in the child being taken away into a foster care system, and I did not want that to happen. I know that no matter what, children being with their parents is best in most cases. So when I was leaving, I stopped my car, gave him money, and asked him if that was his daughter, he told me that she was and that she was two years old. His sign said that his wife and children need help. I did not call the police, but I felt utterly bad that there was a child on the side of the street sleeping in the heat. Nevertheless, I left and supplicated for them. I do not know if that is what I should have done, but I did not know any better, I could not be the reason for a child to be separated from their parents if things went badly with the police. I have been confronted with this once before with a mother and daughter and I then chose not to alert the authorities although someone else did and they were then told to leave where they were. Which would have been the proper choice? These are no conditions for a child to live in, and the parents are abusing them, but on the other hand, the police might take the child from their parents and possibly place them into foster homes or put them up for adoption.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ʻalayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
We implore Allaah to reward you for your keenness to help those in need and your compassion towards the weak; may Allaah reward you for that on a day when neither wealth nor sons will avail, save he who comes to Allaah with a sound heart.
It is known that the father is very compassionate towards his children and keen to serve their best interests and repel any harm that may befall them; therefore, this father should be given advice in a kind manner to do all that protects his child against potential harms, be it the sun's heat or anything else. If the father does not respond by protecting his child from such harms, then he may be threatened with reporting the matter to the concerned authorities; hopefully, he would then be deterred (from portraying such behavior in the future).
Allaah knows best.
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