What is the ruling if a father neither acknowledges nor denies paternity of a child after birth?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Mutual Imprecation (Li'an)
Primary text
If the father neither acknowledges nor denies the paternity of a child after birth, no scholar known to us requires him to accept the lineage based on mere silence. The omission to deny can be interpreted as waiting until the existence is fully confirmed through the process of Li'an.
Supporting text
Abu Hanifa, however, is noted to obligate the father to accept the child in such a situation, according to previous statements regarding his position.