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:

Assalam-o-Alaikum
Dear Brother,

May Allah reward you for the good work you are doing.

I have a question, and I would request you to reply to me only.

Last year when I was in my holidays to my country, we adopted an infant (a baby boy) few hours after his birth. The charity organisation which runs this child adoption program does not provide child's biological parent's details.

Since, I live abroad I required child's birth certificate and other legal documents to make passport and visa. I gave my name to him as father, because I didn't know about his biological parents. I call him my son, my close relatives know the fact but when we brought the child with us abroad we told everybody that we adopted this child from my younger sister back home.

According to Quran chapter Al-Ahzab: 4-5, I can't give my name to the child, I should call him as brother in faith or friend. But the fact is, in papers he is my son and also we treat him as our own son.

I know we have to reveal the fact to him some day that we are not his real parents; which one can imagine is itself a very big and shocking news for him, but we would manage it Inshallah with the love and care. But if I don't give him my name as father the society will make his life miserable, especially if its known that he is result of an adultry or Allah know the circumstance when her mother gave birth in a charity hospital and left him there for others to adopt him.

In the West people really don't care but in our sub-continent society there is big discrimination. I am scared this might ruin his life.

I am extremely worried of commandments from Allah in Quran and about the day of judgement. But in my situation if I don't introduce him as my son or my sister's son for sure the child would face a lot of problems in the society.

Kindly advise what should I do?

(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:

Adopted child name and challenges

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

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 Paradise like this," putting his index and middle fingers together.”

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.

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:

1. The child will always be called by his/her biological 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 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 in her infancy, 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 Question: Kindly advise what should I do?

Respected brother in Islam, you should do what the Lord All-Knowing All-Wise has commanded you to do, if indeed you fear Allah and the Last Day.  Whatever might be the level of your imaginary fears, it would only be piety and righteousness on your part in the Sight of the Lord that you declare only the truth….and if the truth is that the identity of the parents of your adopted child are known, then so be it.

It would neither be lawful in Shariah, nor piety, nor righteousness in the Sight of the Lord that you invent a lie and introduce your adopted child as your child or your sister’s child, when the truth is it is not.  If the ignorant in the society choose to revile or abuse your absolutely innocent and blameless adopted child only because the identity of its parents happen to be unknown, then they shall pay for their evil in the Court of the Lord Most Majestic on that Inevitable and Tumultuous Day of Judgment. 

Respected brother in Islam, let not the fear of the perceived evil of the ignorant inspire or instigate you to transgress the Prescribed Boundaries of your Lord….you do what is akin to piety, righteousness, and the truth and leave the rest in the more than capable and able Hands of the Lord All-Knowing, All-Wise.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36:

It does not behove a believing man and a believing woman that when Allah and His Messenger have given their decision in a matter,  they should exercise an option in that matter of theirs.  For whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger,  has indeed strayed into manifest error.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws),   one can be assured of never ever being misled;   but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.  

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