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Muslims can adopt but the child keeps the family sur name of the birth parents so the family lineage is always there to know where child came from etc. Therefore, the adoptive parents are not allowed to change the child name. Muslims are suppose to inform the child that they are adopted and to inform them who there parents are.

Actually prophet Muhammed had adopted a son ,Name of his adopted son was Zeyd and he was one of the first muslims. I dont know much but I think Zeyd had been kiddnapped and sold in a slave bazaar. Prophet Muhammed bought him and freed him. Yet Zeyd wanted to stay with him.The practices and lessons in regards with adoption in Islam cames from this experience. Adoption laws in Muslim countries are different depending on the country adoption takes place.

I have to correct this last reply. The rules in Islam regarding Adoption came from God, not the Prophets(peace be upon him) "experiences". And sometimes Gods requests went against what the prophet (Peace be upon him) had been inclined to do (for the best of reasons)before it was revealed. What it comes down to is God knows more than people. For Years psychologists told parents it was better to tell their child they were adopted, but not allow them any contact. And this sounded great to Adoptive parents. This way they could keep "their" child all to themselves. It sounded good, but time has taught us that that does not work, it leaves the children longing for knowledge of where they came from. And the Birth parents often become Idolized. How many adopted parents heard "my real mom would not be that mean" But when children are raised knowing who their parents are and having some knowledge of their flaws they actually have a stronger attachment to the parents who actually raise them. But as humans, we have instincts to protect ourselves. In the Quran God revealed that in this case it was more important to protect the childs family relationship. As a Muslim the verse that revealed this is very important to me. Because when the non adoption community acts like adoptees are over reacting in looking for their parents. God understand. He knows those relationships are part of who we are and we can not deny them anymore than we can deny ourselves air. Muslims can and do "adopt" children though it is given different names and done in different ways. In Islam it is considered one of the highest charities to care for an orphan and there are strict rules in protecting an orpans property. In Muslim countries it is more like non parents are given custody of the children. But they are not allowed to sever or hide the relationship with the Biological family. And the parent and the adoptee(or adopted parents in childhood)still has a responsibility to keep contact. These are strangely things that most governments are just learning now. That open adoption is better for all parties. The exact text is 033.005 YUSUFALI translation of the Quran: Call them by (the names of) their fathers: that is juster in the sight of Allah. But if ye know not their father's (names, call them) your Brothers in faith, or your maulas{roughly translated as friends}. But there is no blame on you if ye make a mistake therein: (what counts is) the intention of your hearts: and Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful. I just want to clarify because people often in their lack of knowledge imply that Mohamad made up the faith of Islam from his own experiences. And that would be like me implying that your religion is just stores. I understand When it comes to religion we all make errors and I am not trying to be insulting to you, I just want to clarify. And because of these rules you will rarely find a Muslim Adoptee searching for a birth parent. Unless they are adopted in the US and the Muslim family was not given the name of the parents, but it is my experience that muslims tend stick to foster parenting and if they adopt it is an open adoption. There are some Muslim Adoptees searching, but more likely than not they are people who accepted Islam as an adult.

Hi lovingmomhappykids! Since you sound quite knowledgeable about this topic, could you answer a question for me? I have two Muslimah friends who have mentioned they'd like to adopt in passing. But neither is pursuing it right now. Both have young bio kids. My question is: Is there any reason that a Muslim family could not adopt a non-Muslim child? Since there is such focus on the maintenance of biological ties, I wonder if this extends to the biological family's religion as well? So if a Muslim family adopted a child whose bio family were Christian, would they raise the child Muslim or would they have to try to maintain that Christian faith for the chid? Or to avoid this dillemma, is this not allowed? I ask bc I'd like to offer encouragement to my friends to pursue adoption if they still feel open to it when their kids are a little older, and I'd like to have my facts straight. Thanks in advance! :) God bless! Karolina

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to talk about my faith. First let me be clear I am not a scholar. I am just a practicing Muslim. So that said you have asked a pretty difficult question. But that said I will do my best to explain the conplexities of the issue. Two sisters in our community are currently facing these issues. The first is a foster parent who is working on adopting an abandoned baby. Another has adopted from overseas. First you have to understand that In Islam there is a common understanding that all babies are born in a state of submission to God. It is the parents and communities that confuse children on the nature of God. Also Islam recognizes the previous prophets such as Abraham, Moses, Jesus, David ect. And that each prophet brought the same message time and time again. That God is one, and that we should only worship the One God. Over years and misunderstandings people began to corrupt Gods. message so Mohammed was sent to remind people of the true message. So Islamicly Islam is a continuation of all the Abrahamic faiths not "in conflict with it" as many people believe. For every Muslim it is there responsibility to pass that message on to others. Especially the charges in there care. Weather those children were biological or "adopted" we have to raise them according to the message of Islam(submission to God) But part of Islam is a very strong responsibility to respect, keep contact, and provide service to our parents. To Muslims respecting Parents is VERY important. We are commanded to respect our parents(Muslim or not) in all things unless it is against Islam. So the simple answer would be this. The preference would be that we "adopt" a muslim child. As lslamicly it is always better for a child to stay with someone from there family or close community. But if there was a child in need of care and there was no family available of course we can care for that child. As long as we make every effort to provide them contact with there biological family. It is my understanding that we would have to respect the parents right to teach the child the parents faith. And the childs right to practice it. But at the same time we would have to teach them about Islam. And encourage them to practice Islam at our home. Most Muslims would rather start out seeking a Muslim child to adopt, especially if they have children of their own. Mixed messages can be very confusing for a child. And though most Muslims encourage interfaith dialoge. There is something very different about two families you deeply love telling you you should believe two different things. Not only would it be confusing for the adoptive child but it could also effect your biological children. Of the two people I know, One chose to adopt a Muslim baby. The other is adopting an abandoned baby who was abandoned under the laws that say you can abandon a child at a hospital no questions asked.(she has fostered this baby from about 4 days old) Because the parents are unknown there is no way to keep contact. I hope this helps. What ever errors I have made are from me. Anything good is by the grace of Allah(SWT)

Thanks for your reply! I know on at least one occasion I have seen a request by an adoption agency or facilitator looking specifically for a Muslim couple to adopt a child. Obviously, the bio mom must have been Muslim and therefore wanted to make sure her child grew up with the faith. I am a little concerned about one thing, though. Even though I absolutely agree with openness in adoption, I also believe that when bio parents terminate their rights, they terminate their right to "parent" that child. Therefore, the adoptive parents become that child's parents. However, from your descriptions, it really just sounds like the adoptive parents are more like guardians, caretakers, but not parents. I find this troubling bc I had a friend who had 3 bio children and then adopted an older boy who I believe had been abandoned and was homeless. Every time she referred to him, she called him her "adoptive son". I think this is detrimental to the child, being reminded that he doesn't really belong with this family. I think there is a difference between honoring one's heritage and that includes biological parents, but one's parents are the ones who raise you, who take care of you, who are there for you no matter what. Whether you are biologically linked to them is secondary in my mind. I'm not trying to start an argument by any means, btw. :) I'm just trying to dig a little deeper and see if maybe there's something I'm misunderstanding. Thanks again for sharing Islam's views on adoption!

I also am not her to argue but I do want to understand how Muslims see this issue. As an Adoptee I have seen all too often the issue becomes about the rights of Parents. I hope every one will take the time to stop for a secound and not think about the rights of the adoptive parents, not think of the rights of the Bological parents but instead think of the rights of the adoptive child. Though I do not agree with the child being refered to as the "adoptive son" because that is no ones business but his. But children including myself are not property. We are people. We had a history before we are born and a history after we were born. And we have a right to that history. What is best for the child is not always what is best or what makes the parents happy. The fact is Islamicly it is more like gardians. Adoptive parents can never be the same as bological parents. Muslims understand this. We can raise the child as our own children, and love them just as much as we love our own children. But God ordained a different parent for them and we can not separate what God has ordained. This does not mean that the biological parent is the best to raise the child or even can raise the child. But one way or another it is important that that person has a role in there lives. But you also have to understand that God also Ordanied that you are to care for the child. That is infact a greater priveledge than you can ever imagine. God has provided you with a wonderful enjoyable experience that is also a deep form of charity. The other issue is Muslims have a very different view of family and belonging. Belonging is not determined by name and infact girls often carry the fathers first name and boys the fathers last name yet they all belong. The other thing is all Muslims are Brothers and sisters and this runs much deeper than I have ever seen amoung any group. We live very much as a community. Our children call all adults in our community Aunty or Uncle no matter what race or family. Everyone calls everyone Brother or sister. Take my today, which is pretty much typical Saturday. Today we have 3 boys, born contenents apart, but still they are brothers. My son who is 13, white American decent. Then there is R. who is 11 and Indonesian. And then there is H who is 9 and Pakistani. Dispite differences in age, race and looks these boys know they belong together because as Muslims we are family. My son also spend a lot of time with other boys that are his age but if his "little brothers" ask to come over he will never say no. My daughter who is 11 is also spending time with her Baji's (sisters in Urdu) who are age 10, 15 and 17. at the home of one of my "sisters or baji's". I know if I have plans to attend a wedding it is just fine for my daughter to go with friends because the fact is she will come to the same wedding, because we are all family and we all attend the parties, weddings, picinics, graduation(two this weekend alone). And it would not be at all unusual in a Muslim family to send you child to spend time in another country with an Aunt or an uncle. American has lost it's sense of community and extended family. As a result "belonging" has been defined by a single family. It is very different for Muslim families where children grow up as part of a community and everyone shares responsibility of giving the children direction. And as an Adopted child believe me no matter how hard my parents tried(and they were good loving Parents). I never truely felt I belonged. I always felt that there was a family I had lost out there that I truely belong to. No matter how kind my parent tried to be I was always the odd duck. No matter what name they called me " I was adopted" . I think now that maybe if I knew my biological parents, I would not have run around with this dream image of "my real family" And I would have realize that I was actually more like my adoptive family than them. I probably would have felt I "belonged" with my adoptive parents much more than my biological parents. This is the case with my son who is actually from my first marriage. He is very clear where he belongs. He knows his father and loves him but says "he does not belong with him." This is a health kid who knows where he belongs. He has a much healther sense of who he was than the mess of a kid I was at the same age trying to figure out "who I was" I respect you view and I think you have good intentions. But as someone who has been adopted I can only say. my faith is the only thing that helped to heal the hole in my heart. Open adoption is the best whenever it is possible. I truely hope no one takes offence and none is ment. I am only trying to explain my faith and my experiences that have deepened my understanding and faith. Adoption is an emotional issue, and everyone is trying to do the best they can for the children. We may not always agree on how that should be done. But our intentions are the same and God willing I hope that will bring us together and not apart. Peace and blessings of God on everyone.

Thanks again for your reply. You are right, I was thinking in much more narrow terms regaring "belonging". As I read your description of the more community-centered sense of belonging among Muslims, I knew exactly what you meant from the time I've spent with my Muslim friends. It is true, that for me as a non-Muslim, adoption cannot have the same meaning because my child will not have the sort of community-belonging you describe. Not because I wouldn't want it that way, but because that is unfortunately not the "world" that I live in. So I am glad I asked and you answered, bc it shows that there's no one correct answer, but really a matter of different experiences and expectations. And as you say, having been adopted yourself, that experience has certainly also influenced how you look at the whole concept of adoption. I will never be able to have the sort of insight you do because I grew up with my biological parents. It is good to be reminded of this for the children's sake - as you say. It is their best interest that I also have at heart, so I cannot presume to know how they will feel about having been adopted. I do want to just say one thing in my defense, bc perhaps I may have been misunderstood. My desire for my children to feel that they belong in my family comes from a desire for THEIR wellbeing, not mine. I know how it feels to not know if you belong, to feel alone and isolated, and I want to do everything I can to prevent or lessen that in my children. But it appears that we'd be comparing apples with oranges trying to fit my best intentions into the context of adopting within the Muslim community, and vice versa. Thanks again for your instights. I found our exchange quite helpful :)

I just want to say I do not think you are thinking about "you" and I am clear that I think you do have only the best of intentions. The overall view in adoption has always been that the biological parents messed up and there for they should loose all rights. And this seems right, until you consider when you take away there rights the natural consiquence is the child also looses a Huge amount of their rights too. But know one thing. At 40 years old if there is one thing I have learned in my life is that EVERYONE feels out of place at some time in there life. Everyone feels different and like the don't belong. (Even those cool kids) No matter weather you are adopted or not. Cool or geek. No matter what faith you follow or culture you are we are all in fact different and we are all in fact the same. And at some point (or several Points) we feel alone. And most people go through a period of substantial depression at one point or more in there life. For adopted kids it is exagerated but it is not in fact that much different than the identitiy crisis everyone goes through(and is not always worse) when they realilize they are different from everyone else in the world. The main thing you can do for you kids is give them a sense of the creator so they know they are not alone. And also give them a broud support group so when they are feeling they do not belong there is more likely to be someone there to bake a big pan of cookies, or maybe kick a ball around, or just sit and talk, and say you will always belong with me and I like you even if you are not exactly like me. I can tell by you interest in this subject that you are truely a good person trying to Help people and understand. So I hope nothing I say is offends you because I really admire you for taking the time to ask. Many people don't bother to understand they just say my way is right and do not care that others may have a different view. I respect you view. In fact it is the same view my own adoptive parents(non Muslim) held until I reached my teens. Because that is when the consequences really began to show. Thank you again for the opportunity to talk about my faith!

Hi again! You mention that your adoptive parents weren't Muslim. Do you know if your birth parents were? Or did you convert? I'm just curious. I hope that's not too personal. I have certainly thought about how I want to stress to my children that before we came along, God was with them. Before they were born, God was with them. I want them to have that sense of continuity and also that they, as a child, do not "belong" (in the sense of property) to us as their adoptive parents, nor do they "belong" to their birth parents, nor to anyone else. They are children of God first and foremost, and their earthly parents, both bio and adoptive, were placed in their lives for a reason, and they wouldn't be who they are without both sets (and without the other important people in their lives - foster parents, other relatives, friends, spouses, etc.) I think a lot of parents feel that their children are "theirs" like a dog is "theirs", but we do not belong to other people. We belong WITH other people (hence the sense of belonging), but not TO them. I hope that this attitude will not only help me be a better mother, in being accepting of their differences and their choices that I may not agree with (provided they are morally right, like choice of career or spouse), but also that it will help them truly feel like a child of God. Well, thanks again for sharing.

I am a muslim mother in need of giving my son up for adoption. I am in need of placing him into foster care until a suitable adoptive family is found for him, but I dont know how to find a foster home and worry that by giving my son up for adoption the state will try to take my other children from me. Is this possible? Thank you to anyone reading this post.

To anilorak13ska Yes, I am a convert. I converted many years ago. I do not think this is the appropriate place to discuss indepth religious discussion because when ever I discuss my decision to convert there is always one or two people who are insecure about there religous beliefs that are offended. And the last thing I want to do is offend anyone. I do not want this forum to be removed because it tumbles down into a religious debate. Because I do think it is very important to have it available. But you are also welcome to email me directly and I will be more than willing to discuss such things.

will do. :)

I was born into a Muslim family and my husband is a revert to Islam. We are not able to have a child of our own. Where do we go to find a child to adopt? Most agencies are not really willing to help Muslim couples to adopt. Please help. Thank you.

I just read this article yesterday about a one-man humanitarian charity working out of Pakistan. One of the many, many things he does is take in orphans or newborns dropped off. In the article, it specifically mentions that it is close to impossible to find a family in Pakistan willing to adopt a girl or an older child. No idea how you might go about it, but here's the link to the article. Maybe you can contact the man in charge and he can give you some pointers? [url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012754988_apasfeapakistanhumanitarianhero.html]Nation & World | Aging philanthropist is Pakistan's Mother Teresa | Seattle Times Newspaper[/url] Also, while it's happened rarely, I have come across agencies specifically looking for Muslim families. I would probably pursue a dual course of action - private/independent domestic adoption and international adoption from a country known to have a significant Muslim population. On the independent side of things, while it has not been successful for me, it is how I found out about two different situations in search of Muslim parents. So I would not dismiss this possibility, bc whether you are chosen or not is not based on an agency's criteria but the birth families. Many birthmothers don't care about the aparents' religion. Having said that, I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket, bc there are not many Muslim birthmothers placing their children (I just realized I'm totally assuming that you are in the US, so if you're not, I do apologize). There have also been waiting Muslim chidren in the US foster care system. Again, not a lot, but I have seen them. I'm not sure what your age criteria are, but if you were to go the foster care route, you're looking at at least a grade schooler. With most international adoptions, toddlers and up are available, sometimes younger. I don't know much about specific countries, but I'd research the Muslim populations of various countries and compare that list with a list of countries that have international adoption programs. My gut tells me there may not be a lot, but you don't need a predominantly Muslim country in order to find an adoptable Muslim child. Finally, and this is rather risky, some countries do allow for independent international adoption. So you could try that. Having said all of this, these suggestions are based on the assumption you and your husband are looking to adopt a child who was born into a Muslim family. Of course, if that isn't important to you - meaning that you will of course raise your children in your own faith so who cares? - then I think the road ahead is slightly easier. As I mentioned, in independent adoption, many birth mothers don't care about your religion. And I'm just totally throwing it out there, but I would assume that a country like China, which is clearly not religious on the governmental side, should have no problem with a Muslim family adopting. But what I hear about China is that the wait is incredibly long. There may be other countries where the family's religion is irrelevant. There are many Christian adoption agencies based out of the US, so you may hear a lot about them. But you can bypass them and look for strictly secular agencies instead. Best of luck to you on your journey!