I want to ask you that, Does our Islam allow us to adopt a child from others? If yes, then is there any condition we need to bring into consideration
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
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wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon
all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked
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Assalam-u-Alikum.....MasahAllah
I am very glad that your kind knowledge awares us about the deeds and misdeeds
in Islam. I want to ask you that, Does our Islam allow us to adopt a child from
others? If yes, then is there any condition we need to bring into
consideration? Please answer my question....
Thank
you
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errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
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Answer:
Adoption 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.
Your
Question: I want to ask you that, Does our Islam allow us to adopt a child from
others?
Regardless of whether one is married or unmarried,
regardless of whether one has a child or is childless, regardless of whether one
is able to conceive or not, ….. not only is it permissible in Islam to adopt
and/or sponsor orphan children, it is absolutely encouraged and considered
amongst the greatest virtues in Islam; and if one genuinely takes good care of
their adopted children, a means of earning huge rewards from Allah Subhanah.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 177:
177 It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West;
but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and
the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for
your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those
who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice
regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and
patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of
panic. Such are the people of truth, the
Allah-fearing.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 215:
215 They ask thee what they should spend (in charity). Say: “Whatever ye spend that is good is for
parents, and kindred, and orphans, and those in want, and for
wayfarers. And whatever ye do that is
good Allah knoweth it well.
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah
Baqarah verse 220:
220 …..They ask thee (O Prophet (saws)) concerning orphans. Say: "The best thing to do is what is
for their good.”
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 (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
In light of the above guidance of the Quran and Sunnah one
cannot even imagine the rewards the Lord Most Gracious would bestow on those
blessed and fortunate people who took good care of orphans.
Your
Question: If yes, then is there any condition we need to bring into
consideration?
Because the relationship of blood in Islamic Law has
obvious ties towards marriage, inheritance, etc.; there are certain guidelines
in Islam a believer who wishes to adopt must follow:
- The child will always be called by the
original father’s name.
- 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.
- 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
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