A Muslim couple adopting a non-Muslim child

28-1-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Is it permissible for a Muslim couple to adopt a non Muslim Child? I know that legal adoption is not allowed in Islam. Here the word adoption means guardianship/adoption according to the Islamic Shari’ah.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

If by this legal adoption you mean that the child is traced back to those who nurture him and he becomes their child who inherit them if they die and the like, then this adoption is forbidden in Islam.

However, if you mean by guardianship and adoption according to the Sharee’ah, is just nurturing the child and being kind to him without adopting him as one’s own child, then this is desirable and this is among the good morals when there is a need for him, and in this case there is no difference if the child is from Muslim parents or non-Muslim parents.

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 84422 and 82371.

Allaah Knows best.

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