Is Adoption Prohibited in Islam?

User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 

Question:

Why is Adoption Prohibited in Islam?
My question regards adoption.  I've heard that we as Muslims cannot adopt: 1. why not?  2. what is the supporting documentation especially in the Qur'an or otherwise?

Answer:

Adoption of a child, if seen in the modern connotation, generally implies that a child not only be given a home and the love and affection that he may, unfortunately, lack due to the absence of his home and family, but also to give him the adopting family's name and, subsequently, be given the complete legal status of a real child of that family.

Islam does not prohibit adoption. However, the Islamic concept of adoption is somewhat different from that of the modern concept. The Qur'an has clearly directed the Muslims to maintain for their adopted children the names of their real fathers and if their real fathers are not known, then they should be considered and called brethren in faith or the adopted children of the person concerned (Al-Ahzaab 33: 5).

This directive clearly implies that adoption of a child per se is not only allowed in Islam but the Prophet (pbuh)'s example has encouraged it as a great social service and a humane act. The directive regarding naming the child after his real father is obviously to avoid all kinds of psychological, social and emotional trauma for the child at a later stage in life.

It should, however, be kept in mind that the adopted child - who, in effect, lacks any real relationship with the adopting parents - is not a natural inheritor for his surrogate parents and vice versa. The surrogate parents may will - to any extent - in his favour. Nevertheless, in the absence of such a will the adopted child shall not be included in the inheritors of the deceased.

Moiz Amjad

10th May 2000

Taken with thanks from www.understanding-islam.org

| More...