used for those whose genealogies have been traced to the Noblest Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. In our societies, a non-Sayyid also likes to be called as ‘Saadaat’ for gaining awe, reverence and glory amongst the people though it is nothing but lies.

Remember! Declaring someone else to be one’s father other than one’s real father, or linking one’s lineage to a family other than one’s own is Haraam, it deprives him of Heaven and leads to Hell. Ahadees mention severe warnings against this:

Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُمَا has narrated: If someone claims anybody else to be his father other than his own father, he would not even be able to smell the fragrance of Heaven, whereas its fragrance would be smelt from a distance of 500 years. (Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 3, pp. 52, Hadees 5)

The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has warned, ‘If someone claims anyone to be his father whereas he knows that he is not his father, then Heaven is Haraam for him.’ (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 326, Hadees 6766)

Shaykh-e-Tareeqat, Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, ‘Allamah Maulana Abu Bilal Muhammad Ilyas ‘Attar Qadiri Razavi دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـه has said:

Dear Islamic brothers! There is a lesson here for people who claim to be the real father of their adopted children in order to avoid disappointing them. Sometimes, children live their entire lives believing their foster-fathers to be their real fathers. Hence they do not do Isal-e-Sawab or pray for their real fathers.

Remember! Even on necessary legal documents, ID cards, passports, wedding cards etc. writing one’s foster-father’s name instead of the real fathers is Haraam and leads to Hell. Divorcees and widows should not ruin their afterlife by keeping their children in the dark about their real fathers. It is not wrong for a child to call him (step-father) dad as long as everyone knows that he is not his ‘biological father’. However, if he shows this ‘dad’ to be his real father then he is a sinner and deserves Hell.