Rules pertaining to adopted children

Nasihah (Advice): Attribute adopted children to their biological parents

Sayyiduna Abdullah Bin Umar Radhiyallahu Anhuma reports, “We used to call (Zaid bin Haaritha) – the freed slave of Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam – Zaid Bin Muhammad until the Qur’anic Verse was revealed: “Call them (adopted sons) by (the names of) their fathers. That is more than just in the Sight of Allah.” (Bukhari)

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Question and Answer:

1. As salaamu Alaikum. This is a follow-up to a question answered a few weeks ago where it was mentioned that if a girl’s mother and stepfather consummate their marriage, the stepfather becomes the girls mahram. So what happens in a case where a mother adopts a female baby and breast feeds her. Does the adopted father become her mahram or not? Jazakallah.

(Question published as received)

1. If a couple adopts a child and the wife breastfeeds the adopted child who is under the age of two years ( two years is the maximum period of breastfeeding), the adopted child becomes a Mahram to the wife and the husband.

The same is applicable to a woman who adopts and breastfeeds a child after remarrying i.e. the new husband will be a Mahram to the adopted child.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

Confirmation: 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

(Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh)