Check below answers in case you are looking for other related questions:

I am married and have two children. Elder Daughter (11) and younger son (6). Myself and my wife now wish to adopt a child from orphanage since we can afford to raise one more child.

Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Mr.Burhan, Assalam Alaikum !

Let me first express my gratitude to you for doing this remarkable work to make men like me to aware of true Islam. May Allah reward you with his blessings. Amen.

 

Sir, I have written to you in past and was guided, Thankyou.


I am married and have two children. Elder Daughter (11) and younger son (6). Myself and my wife now wish to adopt a child from orphanage since we can afford to raise one more child. Please guide me

whether Islam allows to adopt child even if you have one already and also whether should we take note of child's parent's religion. I have not yet spoken to my father and other family members about my intentions.

 

Your guidance will encourage me to talk to them and sought their permission.

Allah Hafiz


(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

 

Answer:

 

Can one adopt in Islam

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

 

My dear and beloved brother in Islam, not only is adoption of a child permissible in Islam, it is a highly encouraged and meritorious act in the Sight of Allah Subhanah and something that would earn one unbelievable and innumerable rewards in the life of the Hereafter.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 219-220 (part):

219 … They ask thee how much they are to spend (in charity); say: "What is beyond your needs." Thus doth Allah make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider

220 (their bearings) on this life and the Hereafter. They ask thee concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is for their good; if ye mix their affairs with yours they are your brethren; but Allah knows the man who means mischief from the man who means good.

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 76 Surah Dhahr verses 5-12:

5 As to the Righteous (in the Hereafter), they shall drink of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Kafur

6 A Fountain where the Devotees of Allah do drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance.

7 They (in the life of the world) fulfill (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide.

8 And they feed for the love of Allah the indigent, the orphan, and the captive

9 (Saying) "We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: No reward do we desire from you nor thanks.

10 "We only fear a Day of distressful Wrath from the side of our Lord."

11 But Allah will deliver them from the evil of that Day and will shed over them a Light of Beauty and a (blissful) Joy.

12 And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk.

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4974 Narrated by Abu Umamah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone strokes an orphan's head, doing so only for Allah's sake, he will have blessings for every hair over which his hand passes; and if anyone treats well an orphan, girl or boy, under his care, he and I (the Prophet Mohamed (saws)) shall be like these two in Paradise," putting two of his fingers together.

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4973 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "The best house among the Muslims is one which contains an orphan who is well treated, and the worst house among the Muslims is one which contains an orphan who is badly treated."

 

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.34 Narrated by Sahl bin Sad

The Prophet (saws) said, "I and the person who looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together.

 

In light of the above guidance of the Quran and Sunnah one can only imagine the rewards the Lord Most Gracious would bestow on those blessed and fortunate people who took good care of orphans.

 

Your Question-1: Please guide me whether Islam allows to adopt child even if you have one already and also whether should we take note of child's parent's religion.

Regardless of whether one has one’s own children or not, and regardless of the child’s biological parents religion, it is absolutely permissible and encouraged in Islam for the believers to adopt the less fortunate, if they wish to do so.

 

Because the relationship of blood in Islam has obvious ties towards marriage, inheritance, etc.; there are certain guidelines in Islam a believer who wishes to adopt must follow:

  1. The child will always be called by the original father’s name.
  2. The child will only inherit from his original blood-relationship. He will not be eligible to inherit from his foster-parents. The foster-parents who adopt the child may have the option to will or bequeath upto a maximum of one/third of their wealth to their adopted children after their death, if they wish to do so.
  3. If the foster-mother has nursed the adopted child, then she will be considered a mehram of the child; but if the foster-mother has not nursed the adopted child, then she will not be considered a mehram of the adopted child.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 4-5:

…Allah has not made your adopted sons your real sons. These are the things which you utter from your mouths, but Allah says what is based on reality; and He Alone guides to the Right Way. Call your adopted sons after their father’s names; this is more just in the sight of Allah. And if you do not know who their fathers are, then they are your brothers in faith and your friends. There is no blame on you if you say something unintentionally; but you will surely be to blame for what you say with the intention of your hearts. Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

 

Your Statement: Your guidance will encourage me to talk to them and sought their permission.

My dear and beloved brother in Islam, there are only a very few things one can do in this world which would earn them the ultimate reward, honor and status of being in the constant company of the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws) in the Eternal Life of the Hereafter; and Allah is our witness, if one adopts an orphan with the intention to take good care of them, and provides them to the best of their ability with love, honor, and compassion…Allah is our witness, such blessed believers are promised the constant company of none other than the Noble Prophet (saws) himself in the Eternal life of the Hereafter.

 

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 4974 Narrated by Abu Umamah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "If anyone strokes an orphan's head, doing so only for Allah's sake, he will have blessings for every hair over which his hand passes; and if anyone treats well an orphan, girl or boy, under his care, he and I (the Prophet Mohamed (saws)) shall be like these two in Paradise," putting two of his fingers together.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

 

Burhan

 


Related Answers:

Recommended answers for you: