By Urban Shihemi , November 13, 2025

Acting Chief Kadhi Sheikh Sukyan Omar Hassan has called on Muslim parents undergoing divorce to safeguard the emotional and spiritual wellbeing of their children, warning that children are being dragged into adult conflicts and influenced to hate one of their parents after separation.

Speaking during the Friday khutbah at Jamia Mosque Nairobi, Sheikh Sukyan said that while divorce is permitted in Islam under certain circumstances, it should never lead to the breakdown of parental responsibilities.

He stressed that children should never be “divorced” when parents choose to part ways, adding that Islam places immense value on family ties.

“A husband and wife may choose to separate, but a child must never be separated from love, guidance, and care,” he said.

The Acting Chief Kadhi highlighted growing concerns about the rising rates of divorce among Muslim families in the country, noting that the aftermath often leaves children neglected, manipulated, or denied access to one parent.

He urged parents to avoid using children as weapons or tools for revenge, saying such actions cause lasting emotional harm and contradict Islamic teachings.

Sheikh Sukyan also condemned the social influences aimed at weakening traditional family structures, including the promotion of LGBTQ ideologies, saying Islam upholds a clear structure of family, morality, and responsibility.

He reminded the congregation that both men and women have a duty to fulfil their parental roles, regardless of marital status.

“Even after divorce, you remain a father; you remain a mother. Your responsibilities do not end,” he said.