MariaTout

SeniorProject
Sr.Naseera
AdoptioninIslam
AsMuslimslivingintheWesternworld,weareverycautiousofmakingmistakesand
fallingintothewrongdoingsofthosewhodonotbelieveinIslam,includingthefearofadoption
anditsIslamicandsocietalconsequences.Contrarytowhatseemstobepopularbelief,adoption,
theallowedformofit,isbeneficialtosocietyandalthoughmanylookuponitassomething
negative,itisnot.Islamendorsesaspecifictypeofadoption,andthatisprovedbytheProphet
havingadoptedhisformerslave,ZaidbinHarithah.
Intodaysworldtherearesomanywars,somanyfactorsthathavecausedchildrentobe
abandoned,andmanyofthosechildrenareMuslims.Thisisthecaseespeciallyinplacessuchas
theMiddleEast,namelySyria.We,asthepeopleofthisUmmah,cannotallowthesechildrento
stayabandonedandalonewithnobodytocareforthem,thecommonalternativebeingtoship
themofftowesternorphanageswheretheywilllosenotonlytheirethnicheritage,buttheir
Islamicvaluesaswell,andbesubjecttoabusesthatnochildshouldbeexposedto,suchas
trafficking.IbelievethattheMuslimsofAmericashouldreachouttohelpthosechildren,those
bothfromoverseasandthoseinAmerica,andagoodwaytodothatwouldbetohelpthemona
personallevel.Fundingandmoneyarehelpful,buttheywillonlyprovidethebarenecessitiesfor
thesechildrenwhodeservesomuchmore.TherearebarriersfacingAmericanMuslims
surroundingfosteringchildrenduetotheirsocietysetstigmashowever,Islamactuallysupports
aformofadoption,andtherearemanywaystoaccommodateIslamicrulesonadoption,suchas
nursemothers,andfostercare.

ThemodernWesterndefinitionofadoptionhasmanyimplications.Anadoptedchildis,
bythisdefinition,consideredtohavethesamerightsasthebiologicalchildrenandisthuscalled
bythenameoftheadoptivefather.Theywillalsoinheritasabiologicalchildwould,andbe
consideredasabloodrelatedchildwouldofhisadoptivesiblings.(vocabulary.com,n.d.)
BecauseofthesetwopointsmanyhavefallenintothebeliefthattheIslamicreligionprohibits
adoption.QuitethecontraryonewillfindiftheylookatthelifeoftheProphet(peaceand
blessingsbeuponhim),thathehimselfadoptedachild,butwithincertainboundaries.Islamhas
adifferentdefinitionthanthecommonlyaccepteddefinition.Islamallowsadoptionand
encouragesitvehementlyintheQuranandSunnah.However,Islamalsoplacescertain
boundaries.Anadoptedchildcannotinheritasabiologicalchildwould,norcantheybenamed
aftertheiradoptivefather.TheymustalsobesubjecttotherulesthatapplyregardingIslamic
coveringwiththeiradoptivefamilyasanyotherpersonwouldbe(Ahmad,1999).

ThereisanauthentichadithnarratedbyAlTirmidhi,AllahsMessenger(saws)said,

ThebesthouseamongtheMuslimsisonewhichcontainsanorphanwhoiswelltreated,andthe
worsthouseamongtheMuslimsisonewhichcontainsanorphanwhoisbadlytreated(Burhan,
n.d.).IftheassumptionthatIslamprohibitsadoptionweretrue,suchastatementwouldnothave
beenmade.Thetermadoptionimpliesthattheadoptedchildwillliveunderthesameroofas
theiradoptivefamily.Thispracticeisencouragedinthehadithbecauseitclearlystatedthatthe
besthouseamongtheMuslimsisonewhich
contains
awelltreatedorphan.Throughthis
Muslimsareencouragedtoadoptandtotakeinorphanedchildrenundertheirwingandcarefor
themastheywouldtheirownchildren.Theycannotnamethemaftertheiradoptivefathers,but

musttreattheminthebestwaypossible.Itismoreappropriatetousethewordkafalawhen
speakingaboutadoptioninIslamspecifically.

Anotherhadith(8.34),whichprovesIslamsapprovalofadoption,isonenarratedby

AlBukhari:TheProphet(saws)said,Iandthepersonwholooksafteranorphanandprovides
forhimwillbeinParadiselikethis,puttinghisindexandmiddlefingerstogether(Burhan,
n.d.).Thishadithshowsthevalueandhighstandingofonewhoraisesanorphanproperly.The
Prophet(saw)isregardedasthebesthumanbeingbytheMuslimsandinIslam,andsotobe
consideredsoclosetohimisanhonorandclearlyindicatesthehonorofsuchanact.
ThesunnahoftheProphet(saw)isobviouslyaveryimportantaspectofaMuslimslife,
astheyfollowitanduseitasameansofinterpretationofthelawslaidoutbytheQuran.
However,thereisasunnahthatisvaluedhigherthaneventheProphets,andthatisthesunnah
ofAllah(swt).Asoutlinedbythescholar,NoumanAliKhan,Allah(swt)saidintheQuranin
thechaptertitled,AdDuha,DidHenotfindyouanorphanandgaveyoushelter.(93:6)The
bareconceptofadoption,withoutthelegal,cultural,orreligiousadditions,istotakeinan
orphanandshelterandcareforthem.Thus,havingstatedthatHeHimself,Allah(swt)tookin
theProphet(saw)asanorphanandshelteredhim,makesadoptionasunnahofnotonlythe
Prophet(saw)butasunnahofAllah(swt).(NoumanAliKhan,2015).
ThisisnottheonlymentionofadoptionintheQuran.Inthechaptertitled,TheWomen,
Allah(swt)beginswithsayingtobelieveandbeinaweofHim,andthenaftersayingso,saysbe
inaweofthewomb.Rightafterthisayah,comesonespeakingofwomenandorphans.
AccordingtotheinterpretationofscholarNoumanAliKhan,thisissayingthatthewomenand
theorphansarethosethathavetheirconnectionwiththewombsevered.Theyarethetwo

partieswhohavelostthatmaternalconnectionwhichisheldsohighitismentionedinayahwith
beinginaweofAllah(swt)Himself.ItisbecauseofthisthatMuslimsmustgooutoftheirway
tohelpthesetwopartiesinspecific,thewomenandtheorphans.Andthereisnobetterwayto
careforanorphanthantogivethemshelterandraisethemproperly(NoumanAliKhan,2015).
WhilekafalaisclearlysupportedbytheQuranandHadith,themajorbarriertokafala
todayisculturalstigma.Asensethathasbeenbuiltupoverthepastyearsorevenearlierthat
adoptingachildwillshamethefamily,thatitwillshowthatthewomencannotgivebirthtoher
ownchildren,orthatanadoptedorphanisbadluckforthefamily.TheQuranclearlystates
otherwise.Asshowninthegivenevidences,andthemanyothersifonelooksthroughthe
Quran,Islamnotonlycondonesandacceptskafala,ithonoursthosewhofollowthroughwithit.
Intodaysworldtherearesomanyorphans,somanychildrenleftalone,abused,and
forgotten.Thesechildrenhavenoonetocareforthem,andwillinmostcaseseitherdiealone,or
beinitiatedintoagroupofsomesortthatwillonlybringthemmisery.Abigportionofthese
sufferingorphansarethosefromSyria.AccordingtotheSyriaRegionalRefugeeResponsethere
arecurrentlyatotalof4,597,436refugees,51.9%ofwhicharechildrenunder18yearsold.
Thesearenotallorphanedchildren(andthereremainstobenorecordofhowmanyare
orphaned).However,theUnitedNationsChildrensFundstatedthatnearly8,000oftherefugee
childrenwereunaccompaniedandthatthenumberisincreasing(ibtimes.com,2015).The
Ibtimesreportsthat,dozensofAmericanparentsandfamilieswerecallingaskingiftheycould
fosterSyrianrefugeechildreninneedofhomes(2015).Thethoughtofthesepeoplesempathy
drivingthemtodecidetoadoptisindeeduplifting,buthowmanyofthesefamilies,orparents
wereMuslim?

ThemajorityoftheMuslimpopulationdoesnotgothroughwithkafala.Instead,the

farthestmostgoistosponsortheorphanthroughanorganizationofsorts,providingmoney.
Monetaryhelpisofcourse,appreciated,butitdoesnotencompasstheneedsofachild.Themost
importantneedbeingpersonalcarewhichisnotpossiblethroughthemoneychannel.Itis
becauseofthislackofpersonalcareandparentalcompassionthatmonetaryhelpisnot
sufficient,norisitsustainable,ifalargemajorityisdependingontheminorityofpeoplewho
havejoinedthesegroupstohelp.
Thereisyetanotherwaytoadoptchildrenthatmaybeeasiertoabidebothculturallyand
Islamically.Thiswayisthekafala,theoriginalformadoptionatthetimeoftheProphet(saw).
Thewordkafalaliterallymeanssponsorshipbutitisdefinedas,legalfosteringthepromise
toundertakewithoutpaymenttheupkeep,educationandprotectionofaminor,inthesame
wayasafatherwoulddoforhisson(Ahmad,1999,para.3).Thekafala,Islamicwayof
adoption,differsfromtheWesternwayinonlythreeaspects.Theyare:bloodrelations,
inheritance,andidentity(Ahmad,1999).TheAmericanlawismadesothatitcanaccommodate
avarietyofreligions,thisflexibilityallowsforonetobeabletofosterachildIslamically.

AtthispointtherearenostatisticsastothenumberofMuslimfosterchildren
(England,n.d.).However,accordingtoestimationsbasedoncensusresultstheamountof
MuslimsinNorthAmericahasincreased,inevitablyincreasingtheMuslimchildreninthefoster
system.ThismakesitallthemoreimperativethatthegeneralMuslimpopulationopenupto
becomingattheveryleastfosterparents.ToopenuptheMuslimpopulacetofosteringand
kafala,itwillnotrealisticallystartfromindividualencouragement.Rather,thevariousMuslim
communitiesintheUnitedStatesshouldtakeituponthemselvesasaleadingbodytobringforth

thebenefitsandimportanceoffosteringorphans.Indoingso,atleastasmallpercentagewillbe
affectedandmayeventryforlicensing.
Tosaytheveryleast,theremustfirstbeareformaimedtowardsthemindsetMuslims
havetowardstheideaoffostering.Thereneedtobemorewellknownspeakersaddressingthis
issueespeciallywiththeconstantrisingamountsoforphansnamelyMuslimorphanswhowill
losetheirreligionandculturalidentitywhengiventoanonMuslimfamily.InIslamtherelies
thebeliefthatifonehaspureandproperintentionsthenAllah(swt)willrewardthemwhatthey
havestrivedfor.
Itmayevenbethatasacommunity,Muslimsdonotfullyunderstandthefostersystem
andwhatitentails,becausethemanypeoplenotonlyMuslimshavenotbeenraisedto
considerfosteringachild.Asthisis,thereneedstobeawaytoeducatetheMuslimsofthe
communitieswhatthesesystemsare,andwhattheymeanexactly.Muslimsmustattendlectures
orclassestolearnwhatthefostersystemis,andevenwhensomeofthemseethedifficultythat
mayaccompanyfosteringoradoptingachildtheyshouldputasidetheirpersonalcomfortsand
thinkofthethousandsofchildrenwhohavebeenorphanedandwillquitepossiblylosetheir
identity,ifnottheirlives,beforetheyareabletomakeuptheirmindsonwhetheritwillbe
comfortableforthemornot.
TherearealternativestoacompletelyclosedadoptionintheUnitedStatesthatallow
Muslimstoadopt.Thisisopenadoption.Althoughtherightsofinheritancefromtheadoptive
parentsarestillgiventothechildinanopenadoption,thechildisawareofwhotheirbirth
parentsareandoftentimeshavearelationshipwiththemmeetingregularly(openadopt.org,n.d.).
Withthis,itbecomeseasiertoadoptchildrenIslamically,becausewithopenadoptionsthebirth

parentshaveasayinthelifeofthechild,andonemayrequestthatthechildkeeptheirname,this
willbeaccommodated.Theissueofinheritancecanbewaivedwithastatementinawill.
Afterdoingsomeresearch,andinterviewingafewpeopleonthistopic,includingan
imam,Ihavefoundaflawinmythesis.Ihadpreviouslystatedthatadoptionispermittedby
Islam,thisisnotcompletelytrue.Inreality,whatiscondonedandencouragedbyIslamis
fosteringchildren.Thewordadoption,intheWest,bringswithittheimplicationofinheritance,
formingbloodrelations,andgainingafamilyname.Islamdoesnotallowanyofthesefactorsto
playintofosteringachild.WesternadoptionisprohibitedinIslam.Fostercare,however,is
permittedastheallowedformofkafalaintheWest.
ThefostercaresystemintheUnitedStatesconformswithIslamicbeliefsmoresothan
thatoftheadoptionsystem.Inthefostersystemoneisnotrequiredtogivethefosteredchild
theirfamilyname,orautomaticinheritancerights.However,despiteitsmanyplusesthereare
alsochallengesthatcomewithfostercare.
TheFamilyFigwebpagehasbrieflyoutlinedthesenecessaryregulations.Toevenbe
enteredintoconsiderationtofosterachildonemustgothroughintensivetrainingandjudgement
forthestatetodeemthemworthyorunworthyofbecomingfosterparents.Thistrainingtakesup
to30hoursoveraspanoftenweeks,andwhencompleted,thereispaperworktofillout.The
paperworkisalsoextensiveandverydetailed,necessarilyso,toensurethesafetyofthechildin
thathome.Afteronehasbecomeanofficiallicensedparentandisreadytotakeinachild,there
arestillthingstheymustconsider.First,thecaseworkerforthatchildwillarrangeforthehome
oftheparentstobejudgedwhetheritisproperforachildtolivein,thismaycausemany
changes,fortheprospectivefosterfamily.Second,althoughthereisfinancialsupporttofostera

childfromthegovernment,oftentimesthesupportgivendoesnotsufficethenonessentialneeds
ofthefosteredchild,orevensometimes,theessentials.Third,thereisalsothementaland
emotionalstressesthatcomewithfosteringachild.AccordingtoChildWelfarestatistics,there
were684,649childrenconfirmedtohavebeenneglectedormaltreatedintheU.S.in2012
(adoption.net,2015).Manychildrenthatgointothefostersystemhavesufferedneglectorabuse,
andmaycomeintothehomeoftheirnewguardianswithstrainsontheiremotional,mental,or
evenphysicalhealthandwiththatcomemanymoreissuesofbothraisingandcontainingthe
child.Fourth,accordingtotheChildrensBureauReportof2014,fiftyfivepercentoffostered
childrenreturntotheirbiologicalparents.Thismayalsocauseemotionalproblemsforthefoster
parentaftertheyhavecreatedabondwithachildandareobligatedtoletthemgosometimes
afterunderayear.(Heinsler,2015)
Althoughthereseemtobemanychallengestofostercare,onemustalsokeepinmind
howtheymaybehelpingachildfromabandonment.IfonefollowstheIslamiclawswhilealso
followingthelawsoftheUnitedStateswhenadopting,theymayhavetogothroughmore
challengesthanonewhoisnotboundbyIslamicrulings.However,itcanbedone.Withallthe
orphansintheworld,andalltheMuslimsintheworld,eachorphanshouldhaveahomeifthe
Muslimsbegintotakethemin.
Muslimsmustalsolookatthisproblemfromareligiousstandpoint.Weallmusttake
responsibilityforthechildrenoftheummah,andareobligatedtohelpthemifpossible.When
interviewingSheikhMoataz,herepeatedlyemphasizedtheimportanceofintentions.Thatwe
mustnotbefosteringchildren,takingtheminonlytoappeaseourdesiretohavechildren,but
mustalsorenewourintentionsandmakethemforAllah(swt).Muslimsmustbecomeattunedto

thesufferingofothers,andthinknotonlyofthemselvesandwhattheyneedorwant,butwhat
theycanprovideandofferforthosewhoneedsomuchmorethantheydo.
Tofosterachildonemustlookatourcurrentsituationandthesituationofthechildto
properlyassesshowweshouldhelpthem.IfaMuslimcoupleisunabletoproperlyraiseeven
theirchildren,itmaynotbewisetobringinanotherchild,rathersupporttheorphansinany
otherwaypossible.
Thefirststeptoopeningpeopleseyes,isawareness.Withthekindofclosedsocietywe
livein,onewhereselfishnessisencouraged,oftentimespeopleforgettolookatothersandassess
theirsituationtryingtoseehowtheycanhelp,andforgettherealitiesthatsurroundus.But
Muslimsmustalwayskeepinmind,Allah(swt)aidsthosewhoaidothers.Thesecondstepis
toestablishconnectioninourcommunities,makingsurethatalltheMuslimsareconnected,they
areunifiedandintegratingtheirreligionintoeverydaylifeandthoughts.
However,foreverychildthereisadifferentsituation.OneofthemainreasonsIslam
prohibitsadoption,istoemphasizeandrisebloodrelations,andifachildisbeingpulledoutof
theircommunityandtakentoanothercountry,theymaybeseparatedfromtheirbloodrelatives
andtheirclosefamilies.Whateverthesituationmaybe,itismoreimportantforthechildtostay
withtheircloserelatives,onlyiftheywillbesafeandiftheirbasicneedssuchaseducation,
care,andnourishmentareprovidedtheyshouldremainwiththeirbloodrelatives.Onemustalso
makesurethatifthechildisbeingrelocatedtoanothercountry,thatthereisnoriskof
traffickingorotherthingsthatmayharmthechildmorethanstayingintheiroriginal
environment.OneofthemostimportantandvaluedthingsinIslamisbrotherhoodandunity,so

itbecomesaprioritythatthechildstaysintheirenvironmentifpossible,andespeciallywith
theirfamily.
Oftentimes,whatwiththeMiddleEasternCrises,manyorphansarebeingstrippedofany
familyandsometimeseventheircommunities.Itisinthesecasesthatfostercarebecomesan
option.Butitisstilloptimalforthechildtoberelocatedtoafamilywithintheircountrythat
understandstheircultureandisinclusiveandencouragingofit.
Ifthereisthecasewhereachildhasbeentakentoanothercountry,suchastheUnited
States,andhasnofamily,itbecomesakindofobligationontheMuslimstofosterthatchild,
otherwisetheywillbetakenbyanonMuslimfamilyandlosetheirreligionwhichisofutmost
importance.However,therearemanyrulesforaMuslimfamilywhenadopting.Theymust
observeallrestrictionsofmahrams,andtakeintoconsiderationtheageoftheadoptedchildand
theirchildrenandhowthatmaydevelopinthefuture.FosterMuslimparentsmustalsokeepin
mindthelawsofinheritance,butconsiderthatonethirdoftheirwealthisforthemtodecide
whereitgoesandsomeofthatmaybegiventotheirfosteredchild.Fosterparentsmustalsocall
thechildbytheirfamilyname,andmakesuretheyareawareofthesituation,whilstallowing
themtobetreatedfairlyandequallybyboththemandtheirchildren.
Adoptionisprohibited,andfostercareisdifficult.Amoresustainablesolutionisto
establishanIslamicorphanageintheUnitedStates.OnewheretheMuslimchildrenfromboth
domesticandforeignlocationscanbetakeninandcaredfor,andtheprocessoffosteringwould
betakencareofbytheseorphanagescomplyingofcoursetoalltheIslamiclaws.
Itmaybedifficult,andwilldefinitelytakealongtimetostartupandkeepasuccessful
nonprofit,Muslimorphanage,butinthelongrunthiswillbemorebeneficialthancontinually

dependingonMuslimstofosterchildren,wheninrealitytheyarebecomingmoresecludedand
selfish,ratherthanmoreaware.Suchaprojectwouldrequirestronginvolvementfromthe
communityandcontinuouscommitment,andthatreturnstothepreviouslymentionedfirststep
tosolvethisproblem,andthatisawareness,buildingempathyandasenseofresponsibilityinthe
ummah,makingitfeeltheobligationofcaringforitsabandonedchildren.

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