Marrying a woman and giving his name to her children whose father was lost at war

Fatwa no. 15427 When I was in Lebanon, I got to know a woman who had a two and half year old son. She was pregnant in the seventh month. The war kept her away from her family, and she told me that her husband divorced her. She gave birth to a baby girl, so now she has a son and a daughter. Later on, I proposed to marry her according to Islamic way and she accepted. When she asked about her status with her children, I told her that I would give them my name. This was done secretly without anyone's knowledge but Allah. Afterwards, Allah endowed me with a boy and girl from her, and we all lived together in happiness. One day, when I was teaching my children the Qur'an and reached Surah (Qur'anic chapter) Al-Ahzab at the Ayah (Qur'anic verse) in which Allah (Exalted be He) says, Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers: that is more just with Allâh. (Part No. 20; Page No. 362) I began to think about the meaning of the Ayah. I asked some Shaykhs about its meaning, but nobody gave me a final answer. Is my action Haram (prohibited), given that nobody in my family or the village knows anything about the matter? What is the guilt of the children in this issue amidst such an unmerciful society? Please, advise me and give me a definite answer. May Allah reward you with the best.

A: If the case is as mentioned above, it is obligatory to attribute the children to their legal father, and it is not permissible for you to give them your name. Allah (Exalted be He) said, Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers: that is more just with Allâh. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.