Paternity (nasab) Articles 137-144)

Article 137 establishes the period of pregnancy as being between 180 and 300 days. If the infant is born not less than 180 days from the date of the marriage, it is accepted that this is the husband's child. These articles take on a more modern outlook, in officially recognizing the paternity if the infant is born 180 days after the marriage, provided the father explicitly accepts him as his son (Article 138), Hanafi Law has no parallel to this.

Article 139 rules that a husband can deny paternity of a child born at the end of the 180 days. He has thirty days from the date of birth if he was present, or on the day that it became known to him if he was missing. In contrast to Hanafi Law this does not invalidate the marriage as might be deduced, since the law is silent on this point. Denial of paternity however, does not apply in the following circumstances: (a) if the husband's denial comes after the period stated in the previous article; (b) if he denies it after recognizing the fact; (c) if the husband's denial comes after the infant dies; (d) if his denial comes after paternity has been proven by law. Although there is a basis in Shari'a for three of the four instances above, the third is unique to this law, being an addition by the Druze legislator.