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Fatwa CenterDealing with parents who practice Bid‘ah
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. I am a Muslim who was born in England and lives in England with Pakistani parents. My family, including my parents, commit Bid‘ah (religious innovations), such as celebrating the birthday of the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, etc. I tried to tell them that it is Bid‘ah, but they angrily denied it and said that that is what "Wahhabis" say. Now I do not want to get married because the women will most likely commit Bid‘ah, and if I have kids with her, then the kids will commit Bid‘ah as well. Will I get punished by Allaah if my kids commit Bid‘ah? What should I do? Should I run away and live on my own?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
We ask Allah, The Exalted, to bless your parents with repentance, guide them to the straight path, and help them avoid Bid'ah. You did well by inviting them to adhere to the truth and showing keenness on guiding them to the straight path. You should adhere to this attitude and continue to strive in order to accomplish this objective. Verily, this is one of the greatest manifestations of dutifulness and kindness towards them. You should know that it is not required that be the one to advise them directly; you can seek the help of righteous people and scholars to whom you hope your parents would listen. You should also supplicate Allah in their favor frequently. If Allah, The Exalted, decreed that they should be guided to the truth through you and give up these religious innovations, you shall earn great rewards. Sahl ibn S'ad As-Saa‘idi 
narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to ‘Ali when he sent him to Khaybar, “By Allah, if Allah guides aright even one person through you, that is better for you than to possess the most valuable camels.” [Al-Bukhaari]
Marriage is a good deed, so it should not be shunned, for it yields many benefits in this worldly life and the Hereafter, and it is the Sunnah (practice) of all the Messengers of Allah. You should not give it up on account of the widespread religious innovations under the pretext of fearing that your children might fall prey to them. If you are blessed with children, you should take good care of them and instill within them the Islamic moral values; this is your responsibility. You should fulfill your role and place your trust in your Lord. Indeed, Allah is the One Who grants success.
For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 85146 and 81463 about the call of Imam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Al-Wahhaab.
Allah knows best.
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