Adoption in Islam
Encyclopedia
Islamic regulations regarding adoption are generally distinct from practices and customs of adoption
in the other non-muslim parts of the world like Western
or East Asia
n societies. Contrary to what happens in the Western world, the social and jurisprudential understand is not that child formally leaves behind his or her identity as a member of his or her biological family and enters the one that raises them (the adoptive family). While raising a child who is not one's genetic child is allowed and, in the case of an orphan, even encouraged, the child does not become a child of the "adoptive" parents. it is forbidden by Islamic law to adopt a child (in the common sense of the word). instead, children retain membership to their original family. this is called in . This means, it is forbidden by Islam that the new father name the son after himself, and that the child is counted as a non-Mahram
. This can be sidestepped by having the child breast-fed by the adoptive mother in the first two years of life (see milk kinship
). There can also be confusion between a child that has been orphaned and one who has been abandoned but is presumed to have living parents.
A hadith
involving Aisha
and Abu-Hudhayfah ibn Utbah
's adoptive son Salim mawla Abu Hudaifa states:
An important fact to keep in mind is that Muhammad himself had adopted a child, and Muhammad himself was fed by an adoptive mother during the first two years of his life.
Relevant issues include the marriage between Zayd ibn Harithah
's ex-wife and Muhammad
.
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
in the other non-muslim parts of the world like Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
or East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
n societies. Contrary to what happens in the Western world, the social and jurisprudential understand is not that child formally leaves behind his or her identity as a member of his or her biological family and enters the one that raises them (the adoptive family). While raising a child who is not one's genetic child is allowed and, in the case of an orphan, even encouraged, the child does not become a child of the "adoptive" parents. it is forbidden by Islamic law to adopt a child (in the common sense of the word). instead, children retain membership to their original family. this is called in . This means, it is forbidden by Islam that the new father name the son after himself, and that the child is counted as a non-Mahram
Mahram
In Islamic sharia legal terminology, a mahram is an unmarriageable kin with whom sexual intercourse would be considered incestuous, a punishable taboo...
. This can be sidestepped by having the child breast-fed by the adoptive mother in the first two years of life (see milk kinship
Milk kinship
Milk kinship, formed during nursing by a non-biological mother, was a form of fostering allegiance with fellow community members. This particular form of kinship did not exclude particular groups, such that class and other hierarchal systems did not matter in terms of milk kinship...
). There can also be confusion between a child that has been orphaned and one who has been abandoned but is presumed to have living parents.
A hadith
Hadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
involving Aisha
Aisha
Aisha bint Abu Bakr also transcribed as was Muhammad's favorite wife...
and Abu-Hudhayfah ibn Utbah
Abu-Hudhayfah ibn Utbah
Abu Hudhayfah ibn Utbah full name Abu Hudhaifah bin `Utbah bin Rabi`ah bin `Abd Shams bin `Abd Manaf) was a sahaba of Muhammad. He was the son of Utba ibn Rabi'ah, one of the Leaders of Quraish...
's adoptive son Salim mawla Abu Hudaifa states:
- Abu Hudhaifa, one of those who fought the battle of BadrBattle of BadrThe Battle of Badr , fought Saturday, March 13, 624 AD in the Hejaz region of western Arabia , was a key battle in the early days of Islam and a turning point in Muhammad's struggle with his opponents among the Quraish in Mecca...
, with Allah's Apostle adopted Salim as his son and married his niece Hind bint Al-Wahd bin 'Utba to him' and Salim was a freed slave of an AnsariAlawiThe Alawis, also known as Alawites, Nusayris and Ansaris are a prominent mystical and syncretic religious group centred in Syria who are a branch of Shia Islam.-Etymology:...
woman. Allah's Apostle also adopted Zaid as his son. In the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance the custom was that, if one adopted a son, the people would call him by the name of the adopted-father whom he would inherit as well, till Allah revealed: "Call them (adopted sons) By (the names of) their fathers." (33.5)
An important fact to keep in mind is that Muhammad himself had adopted a child, and Muhammad himself was fed by an adoptive mother during the first two years of his life.
Relevant issues include the marriage between Zayd ibn Harithah
Zayd ibn Harithah
Zayd ibn Harithah or Zayd mawla Muhammad was a prominent figure in the early Islamic community and the only one of sahaba whose name is spelled directly in the Qur'an. As he was the adopted son of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, before Islam abolished adoption in exchange of Kafala. He was an...
's ex-wife and Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
.